Hayden plays football, baseball, and loves his truck and country fields and grass. In the fall, you’ll find him playing defensive back for the ACS football team; in the spring, he’s in the right field for the Patriot baseball team, and in between he’s fishing, getting his brothers here or there, or working around on something that needs to be fixed.  It’s no surprise that he wants to further his education to work in industrial maintenance.

My first memories of the Cope family are from Little League football and Fred Hale baseball. Hayden is one of so many that I’ve watched grow up. For a while it was through photographing his teams in spring and fall. Then, he came through Bazzell Middle, and now he’s about to finish ACSHS. And what comes to my mind when I think about the passing of time is that “days are slow, but the years are fast.” I think that Hayden is like so many other seniors; it felt like senior year would never get here. And it may feel like time is poking by, but as sure as the earth turns from day to day – this year will end and Hayden will be like most of us – wondering how it happened so quickly.

Hayden, I hope that you have a fantastic senior year. For certain, it will look different than any of us could have imagined just one year ago. Life has a way of changing at a moment’s notice. I’ve always believed that so much of the success in life is about how we choose to react to the curve-balls that can not be anticipated. So much of the person we grow into over the years is finding ways to adapt and still hold onto our core values and beliefs. Hayden, you are an amazing young man and I’ve been blessed to know you and to watch you grow up. I’m super impressed with how you help take care of your younger siblings and family.  I can’t wait to see what the next chapter of your life holds, and my prayer is that it holds much happiness.              Blessings to you,   Pat