Both Arend's parents were school teachers and Johannes Heyting was particularly successful in his profession being appointed as head of a secondary school. Arend spent his school years with the intention that he would make a career in engineering.
Parehong Arend ng mga magulang ay mga guro sa paaralan at Johannes Heyting ay matagumpay lalo na sa kanyang propesyon na hinirang bilang pinuno ng isang sekundaryong paaralan. Arend nagastos sa kanyang paaralan na taon na may balak na siya ay gumawa ng isang karera sa engineering.