A TEEN’S TAKE: Hayden Day on studying chemistry

Hayden Day, an eighth grader from Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School, won first place and walked away with the state title at the You Be The Chemist Challenge held April 28 at the Louisiana State University. He moves on to compete for the national title in Philadelphia on June 25.

“I love how chemistry is integrated with math. It is cool how the elements can combine to make millions of different compounds.”

Age: 14

School and grade: Baton Rouge Magnet High School, freshman

Parents: Mark and Heather Day

FAVORITES:

Book: The Harry Potter series

TV show: “The Big Bang Theory”

Movie: “Hunger Games”

Music: “Christian; my favorite song is ‘Long Way Home’ by Steven Curtis Chapman.”

Hangout: “My youth group at Istrouma Baptist Church.”

Role model: “My grandpa because he is a hard worker and he is kind to everyone.”

Extra: Day competed with other middle school students from across the United States this summer in Philadelphia for the You Be The Chemist Challenge national championship. He placed in the top eight. To qualify, Hayden won the state title at LSU in April. During the past school year, he was a member of the Sherwood Middle Math Club and Junior Beta and has been a member of the National League of Junior Cotillion for three years. “I enjoy swimming, piano and tennis. When school starts in the fall, I plan on joining the Latin Club and Mu Alpha Theta as well as hanging at the LSU Chemistry labs to learn as much as I can about science.”

William Taylor

Assistant People editor