NATCHEZ — When Deanna Hayden settled into a seat behind the Adams County Board of Supervisors board table last week, she envisioned her potential future in public office.

The junior at Cathedral High School is part of Youth Leadership Natchez and recently toured the domain of the supervisors, Natchez Board of Aldermen and other local government offices.

“I really enjoyed meeting with the supervisors and aldermen, because I do want to be a leader in my community when I get a chance,” Hayden, 16, said. “My piano teacher, Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, is an alderwoman. I love the fact that we got to meet up with them.

“I could see myself running for office, such as a supervisor, because I love their involvement in improving communities everywhere.”

District 2 Supervisor David Carter, who works with the Leadership Natchez program, said Hayden is excelling in the Youth Leadership Natchez program.

“She certainly has the resume of a very successful person,” he said. “She accepts any challenge. She is not scared to take the challenge of being a leader. She is quick to volunteer.”

As an honor roll student, the biggest challenge Hayden faces is budgeting her day through an extensive load of extracurricular activities.

The Jefferson County resident wakes up at 5 a.m. each day in preparation for her 45-minute, one-way commute to school.

She is active in Mississippi Cultural Crossroads in Port Gibson, Delta Gems service group, sings in two choirs at Greater Faith Worship Center in Fayette, participates in 4-H in Jefferson County, takes weekly piano lessons and tutors three younger students — two from Cathedral and one from Jefferson County.

“I’m a very devoted person, and I believe you get out of life what you put in, so if I have to stay up a couple of extra hours more than I wanted to because I tutored someone, then it is well worth it,” Hayden said.

Despite what is an active schedule, Hayden said her choir responsibilities help her make friends where sometimes she is hesitant.

“I love singing because it is a way to express myself,” she said. “My mom got me into being in theater and singing. I guess it kind of stuck. If I’m not good at public speaking or making friends, singing is a way for me to get exposed to a lot of different people who might be just like me.”

After high school graduation, Hayden said she plans to attend Spelman College in Atlanta, majoring in sociology with a track in pre-law and a minor in African studies. She would also like to attend law school at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Hayden is the daughter of Jessie and Donna Hayden of Jefferson County.