The story of Seth and Jolyn is a striking portrait of a couple whose determination, faith, and commitment to each other and their community have charted a unique and meaningful path. Their journey, which began as two teenagers from rivaling high schools with dreams bigger than their years, is one of relentless pursuit and a shared vision for a life together grounded in purpose.

From the early days of Seth’s infatuation with Jolyn, who he met at a mutual friend’s party, he sensed something extraordinary about her. He was so taken by her, that when he came home that night, he told his parents that he met “the one.” They thought he meant for the prom, but Seth affirmed “to marry.” Although his parents teased him that Jolyn, with her cheerleader star-power, might be “out of his league,” he was undeterred. He worked his way into her heart, and after six weeks, they started dating in their senior year of high school, a partnership that would endure and evolve into a lifelong commitment.

Both funded their own college educations, with Jolyn attending Santa Clara University on a scholarship and Seth beginning at Pepperdine. Determined to close the distance between them, Seth campaigned for Pepperdine to match her scholarship, a feat that finally brought her there in her sophomore year. It was during his first semester of sophomore year that Seth studied abroad in Florence, Italy.   He spent his weekends traveling through Europe, with the intent of finding the perfect place to propose to Jolyn.  He recalled vividly the day he found it. Hiking along the Italian Riviera with his roommate Jeff, from Monterosso, through the vineyards along the cliffsides they reached Vernazza. Seth was going around a bend and stopped dead in his tracks. There in the distance was an alcove surrounded by colorful houses on the mountainside, with boats docked and on a cliff was a castle.  He knew then and there it was the perfect place to propose.

Driven by his vision, he created a hardbound children’s book documenting their love story up to the proposal he envisioned on that very hilltop. With dogged persistence, he set out to persuade Vernazza’s mayor to let him use the castle, each time met with refusals, but his determination paid off when he eventually won over the mayor’s assistant with an impassioned plea in Italian, “ma Diego, questo e per amore!” (“but Diego, this is for love!”). He was promised the keys for the day and later at sunset, with the sea and castle as their backdrop, Seth presented to Joylyn his hardbound book and proposed.

By the end of their sophomore year, Seth and Jolyn began planning their future. Detailing every move, making concrete plans, and budgeting meticulously for the home they envisioned to purchase.  They found the house of their dreams by knocking on doors in their desired neighborhood until a resident mentioned a woman down the way was considering selling. She agreed on a price, and to lease it from the couple, until they graduated from Pepperdine.

With no prior real estate experience, they crafted a deal, impressing a professor so much that he turned their journey into a case study, coaching them through the buying process. They purchased their first home at 21 years of age and just three years later, they sold the house for double its value, paying off all their student loans.

Seth and Jolyn’s connection to faith and service is at the heart of their lives. They have been active members at Conejo Valley Church of Christ for more than 20 years.  Pepperdine’s values also resonate deeply with them.   Even today, they often reference Pepperdine’s motto “Freely ye received, freely give” (Matthew 10:5-8). They believe their blessings come with a responsibility to give back, and at the core of every decision they make, they base it on, “Faith, Family and Stewardship.”

This guided philosophy directs their contributions in order of Church, Pepperdine, and local charities like Forever Found, Raising Hope, the Boys and Girls Club, and the YMCA.

Forever Found is a nonprofit that is very dear to the Hayes. The organization is committed to stop Human Trafficking, not only internationally, but also in the United States, and local communities. Their mission is to stop the exploitation of children. https://www.foreverfound.org/our-work.

Raising Hope is a nonprofit empowering teens and young adults experiencing foster care through mentoring, life skills, housing navigation, transportation, and financial support. https://raisinghope.org/

Today, Seth and Jolyn live in North Ranch along with their children (Kiley and Christopher) and their dog Harmony.  Kiley,15, attends Oaks Christian and is passionate about studying law.   This past summer, Kiley attended a summer pre-law program at Oxford and has already completed more than 15 college courses online.  Christopher,11, is a student at Bethany Christian School and is following in Seth’s footsteps with his athletic ability and his love of sports. The Haye family’s impact on the community reflects not just luck, but a clear, determined vision of a life lived with purpose, service, and gratitude. They are a reminder that with faith, commitment, and a heart to give, abundance becomes a blessing meant to be shared.