Haydan was heavily involved in the Yellowjackets drama program during high school in Lebanon. He credits the mentorship of his theatre instructor, C.J. Thomas, for helping him become the stage manager and assistant director of the school’s theatre program. However, Haydan admits he was not that interested in his classes because he did not plan to attend college.
In 2021, Haydan’s neighbor Maggie Shelton, then the director of the OTC Waynesville Center, talked to Haydan and offered him a student job at the Waynesville Center if he enrolled at OTC. Without a posthigh school plan, Haydan accepted the offer.
During his first year, Haydan attended classes in Waynesville and Springfield while learning customer service skills working the front desk at the OTC Waynesville Center. Haydan especially enjoyed his composition and acting courses. With a new outlook on college and learning, he began to push himself.
For his second year at OTC, Haydan moved to Springfield to complete his associate degree. He rooms with OTC’s 2022 commencement speaker, and fellow Lebanon graduate, Billy Dudley. Besides attending college, Haydan works as a student ambassador — giving tours to prospective students and greeting campus
visitors.