Haley DeSart                          

Age: 17

Parents: Daniel and Susan DeSart

Where are you from?

Albert Lea.

If from Albert Lea, which elementary school did you attend?

Lakeview.

Favorite teacher of all time and why?

Angie Zoller Barker. She’s the kind of teacher who expects you to always push yourself for better things and believes that you can make anything happen, all while she’s cracking jokes.

Favorite book/author:

How about a short list of authors I love? George R.R. Martin, Ursula Le Guin, Katie D. Camillo, Haruki Murakami.

Current/past activities, volunteer work and accomplishments:

Former dance team member, involved in orchestra, marching band, Ahlahasa, yearbook, student council, NHS, currently learning Korean and am an entrepreneur.

What do you think you want to do after high school?

Study journalism and business management, media and communications, and minor in Korean language.

What advice would you give to younger students in Albert Lea?

Be happy kids. If there is one thing on this Earth I can tell you, it is to be happy. Allow yourself to be put first once in a while. Allow yourself to dream the biggest and craziest dreams, and allow yourself to be content with who you are. Do not ever deny yourself the right to joy.