Announcing the arrival of her Royal Highness, Princess Saro.

...or not.

Sarah Hayes has always dreamed of being a Princess.  Maybe that's because her name means "princess"--or it could just be because she's a very girly-girl and almost all little girls dream of being a princess at some point in their lives.

Sarah Hayes is 17 years old and lives in Northern Virginia: not Virginia, Northern Virginia.  Her father is in the United States Navy, so she has moved around quite a bit in her 17 years.  She was born on January 25 in Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Two years after she was born, Sarah and her family--which, at that time, consisted of her mother, Anne, her father, Chris, and her older sister, Christina--moved overseas to La Madalena, Italy, a small island between the coasts of Corsica and Sardinia.  During a brief trip to Michigan to visit family, Sarah's younger brother, Benjamin (better known to TPSers as BenH), was born.  After three years in Italy, the Hayes family moved back to the states to Bremerton, Washington.  In March 1995, the last Hayes joined the family--Sarah's younger sister, Hannah.  A few months later, Sarah's family packed up and moved to Springfield, Virginia, where they stayed until December 1997, when they moved to the small town of St. Mary's, Georgia, located near the Florida/Georgia border.  In October 2000, the Hayes' moved back to Springfield where they have lived for the past six years.

This year marks Sarah's fourth year with TPS.  She started her freshman year in high school in 2003.  She is only taking one class each semester this year.  During the first semester, she is taking HS Government and the Constitution, and, in the spring, she will take HS Constitutional Law--both with Ned Futoran.  Previous courses that she has taken include HS English 9, HS Introduction to Literature, HS Grammar & Composition, HS Biology, HS Chemistry, HS French I, and Introduction to Music Theory.  In addition to her one class on TPS, Sarah is dually enrolled at the local community college, where she is taking three classes each semester.  Currently, she is taking English 111 (Freshman Composition 1), Math 163 (Precalculus 1), and French 102 (Beginning French II).  This is Sarah's fourth, and sadly final, year working with The Cracked Pot.  When Sarah started out as a Features reporter in 2003, she hoped, but never actually thought, that she would become the Features editor.  She is incredibly excited to have the opporunity to fulfill the position for this year, and hopes that you all will enjoy the Features section more this year than ever before.

As this is Sarah's senior year in high school, she has begun to think about college and what she will do after graduation.  She plans to major in either broadcasting journalism (with a minor in theatre) or theatre education.  "Most people haven't heard of theatre education," Sarah said.  "In fact, I hadn't until just recently.  With a degree in theatre education, by the time I graduated, I would have my certification as a teacher in theatre, speech, and English.  It's a practical degree that encompasses two of the things I love the most--theatre and English."  Sarah plans on studying at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan, or Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia in fall 2007.

Over twelve years ago, at the age of five, Sarah stepped onto the stage for the first time with her hair in a bun and pink ballet slippers on.  Since that day, she has fallen in love with the stage.  Sarah is very actively involved in many outlets on the stage including theatre, dance, and music.  Since her first ballet class at age five, Sarah's talents have continually progressed.  Recently, she has been very actively involved in theatre--participating in five shows during her junior year in high-school.  In October 2005, she played Miss Scarlet in a production of Clue: The Musical with a theatre group in her area: Young People's Theatre.  In April 2006, she played Sandy in YPT's production of Grease: The School Version.  Inbetween those two productions, Sarah participated as a dancer in both the Christmas and Easter productions at her church, and also played Mary, the sister of Lazarus, in the Easter production.  Only a few days after her junior year officially ended, Sarah performed in yet another production called Uncle Phil's Diner 2--a dinner theatre set in 1957--where she played an egotistical, overdramatic head cheerleader named Bunny Sue Milton.

Music is an incredibly large part of Sarah's life, and has been for as long as she can remember.  It is very rare that you will ever find Sarah not singing, dancing, playing, or listening to music.  She began playing piano ten years ago, in the summer of 1996, at the age of seven, inspired by her uncle.  She still plays to this day, and can often be found banging out melodies on the piano when she is irritated.  "According to my mom and sister, they can tell when I'm mad.  Apparently, I play differently," Sarah said.  During her freshman year of high-school Sarah took up harp, a long-desired endeavor.  However, her teacher moved at the end of that year, and, although Sarah still plays occasionally, she no longer takes lessons.  For the past six years, Sarah has also participated in her church's youth choir, Inspiration, as a first soprano.  This year, she is the first soprano section leader.  In addition, this is Sarah's third year participating in Set Free, a select ensemble from Inspiration.

In January 2006, Sarah had the wonderful opportunity of traveling with seventeen other students and nine adults to Chiang Mai, Thailand with the TPS Thailand 2006 trip.  The team of twenty-seven spent a total of ten days away, departing from Washington D.C. early on Saturday, January 21, 2006 and arriving back home on Monday, January 30, 2006.  "Those were ten of the most incredible days of my life," she said. "I will never forget the kids I worked with, or the adults and fellow teens I ministered with." As part of the team, Sarah served at the three-day conference by doing childcare for thirteen seven-year-old children.  Commenting on the experience, Sarah said, "It was a challenge at times.  Working with seven-year-olds always is, especially when eleven of them are boys, but I love each and every one of those kids.  They will always hold a special place in my heart."

A place that Sarah dearly loves is the Officer's Christian Fellowship center, White Sulphur Springs--located in Manns Choice, PA.  "That place is like my second home," Sarah explained. "I have met some of my best friends there, and grown so much closer to my Savior.  It's a one-of-a-kind place."  One final thing to mention is Sarah's relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Just like everyone, she knows that she's not perfect, but she strives each and every day to be more like Him.  "God has blessed me with so many excellent Christian role models in my life that model his many attributes," Sarah said.  "I could not be more thankful for TPS.  My relationship with Christ has grown so much through my friendships with other students and the teachers here.  Take advantage of this place while you can, because before you know it, you'll be out!"

"One final note I would like to leave you with," Sarah said, "is this: 'He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose'  (Jim Elliot)."

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