Hayley Wester
I appreciate this opportunity to provide an overview of my daughter Hayley Wester, her time at Lakehill and what was important to her during the years she spent at this exceptional school.
Hayley was grateful for her opportunity to attend Lakehill Preparatory School where she formed enduring relationships with students and teachers. My wife, Judy, and I always looked forward to Hayley’s daily enthusiastic descriptions of her experiences and what she learned. Our impression as parents was that Lakehill teachers had genuine enthusiasm for students and their academic specialties. It was more than a job, it was a passion. That’s what drew us to Lakehill.
Before I get too far into telling the story of Hayley’s formative years at Lakehill I want you to know our daughter passed from this life at the age of 22. Hayley had Cystic fibrosis, also known as CF, a genetic disease that affects children and causes life threatening lung infections. Recently there has been progress in treating the disease and there are a number of hopeful signs that new medications will help those inflicted to live longer, happier lives. The ultimate medical research goal is to modify or eliminate the genetic mutation that causes Cystic Fibrosis.
She was aware of the Cystic Fibrosis threat from an early age. If Hayley had been consumed with fear rather than the opportunities that lay before her, she would have missed so much. So Hayley did not retreat from challenges but rather went full bore to pursue her education and get the most out of each day at school, extra-curricular activities and at home.
She blossomed at Lakehill, forming lifelong friends and excelling in her studies. She was an avid participant in the Pan American Student Forum, PASF. The activities and trips initiated by PASF expanded Hayley’s awareness of other cultures and languages. It was the PASF experience and her other extra-curricular activities that helped form the direction for Hayley’s future. She knew that although she had a life threatening health situation that she could pursue her dreams and focus on studies in Human Biology leading to a career in medicine.
Hayley was valedictorian of her 1993 Lakehill class. We visited a number of college campuses around the country her senior year. She was accepted at every university where she applied and ultimately decided Stanford University provided what she wanted. The acceptance rate for undergrads at Stanford was then and continues to be the lowest in the US. There are many students with stellar grades and SAT scores who cannot gain admittance to Stanford. Ultimately what differentiated Hayley was a combination of her openness and wit during the Stanford interview and a record of participation in PASF and other extra-curricular activities. Her admissions essay also seemed to hit the mark.
While at Stanford, Hayley was one of only two undergraduate students in the entire university who were selected to work with the postdocs on genetic research projects. If you haven’t guessed it already, Hayley, of course, selected a Cystic Fibrosis study that was initiated at Stanford. This activity was in addition to her normal class load but it exemplifies her spirit to get in there and make a difference. Through all of this she received media coverage. She gave us about a one hour notice to advise us she was going to be on the national news in case we wanted to watch. It was exciting but also a weird experience for us to see our daughter being interviewed from her Stanford dorm room. She got her points across regarding the importance of research, organ transplantation and her own health challenges.
CF took our daughter from us during her senior year at Stanford. There are no words that adequately express the sense of loss. However, Hayley’s friends from Lakehill and Stanford are still our friends. Those are cherished and sustaining relationships.
I recall the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Stanford Medical School asking me if he could spend an hour with Hayley while she was in the hospital. He told me he had heard so much about her from the other doctors at the Stanford Medical Center. I told him we need to check with Hayley and see what she thinks. As always she was eager to talk even though she was in very serious condition at the time. Afterwards the chairman tearfully told me in the hospital hallway he was extraordinarily touched and inspired by her poise and courage. I tell you this story because I think much of who Hayley became and what she achieved was in no small part due to the teachers and her fellow students at Lakehill.
My reason for writing is to share with you how Hayley pursued her dreams and how important her studies and her whole-hearted participation in Lakehill, PASF and other extra-curricular activities provided a strong foundation for her future. I hope you will continue the tradition of participation yourselves and as you do so remember a kind and courageous fellow Lakehill student named Hayley Wester.
Alan and Judith Wester (parents)
