Alumni report: Anderson ‘achieved each and every goal’

Former ASB president Kylie Anderson pictured on graduation night. Anderson is now a freshman at the University of San Diego. (Kal Ochoa/The Tower)

By CAITLYN MELITE
The Tower

Kylie Anderson, a proud member of Manteca High School’s Class of 2026, has left a legacy in the community. 

“She started out as a very quiet, shy, unsure freshman, and now she is running in state pageants and running huge programs to raise money for awareness of different causes,” said Manteca High School Leadership teacher Stephanie Hjelmstad.

Anderson was Miss Manteca, class vice president, ASB president, and worked extremely hard to bring baton twirling to MHS, performing at football games and MHS events. No matter how exhausted or defeated, Anderson continued pushing towards her goals every day, she has shown growth since starting high school.  

“What I am most proud of is not one specific achievement but the fact she set goals and worked hard to accomplish those goals,” Kylie Anderson’s mother, Peggy Anderson, said. “Freshman year she said had a list of what she wanted to accomplish by the end of high school.  She actually achieved each and every goal that she had set.  She didn't give up when things got hard, she just kept on working.”  

Peggy Anderson explains how successful her daughter was in her high school years. She was part of a number of clubs, programs, AP classes, and more. In her opinion, Kylie Anderson’s most impactful achievements were serving as ASB President, participating and competing in HOSA, and representing her community through pageants and volunteer work.  

“Beyond the titles and awards, I’m most proud of the people I was able to serve and the changes I was able to help create in my school and community, and the memories I was able to create along the way, both while achieving these feats and while living these dreams, she said.  

Kylie Anderson is courageous, extremely intelligent, positive, and caring. When she puts her mind on things, she doesn’t stop working towards it until she has achieved it to the best of her ability. 

The Tower caught up with Kylie Anderson before her move to the University of San Diego to talk about her time as a Buffalo. 

The Tower: What were your most impactful high school achievements? 

Kylie Anderson: Some of my most impactful achievements were serving as Student Body President at Manteca High School, competing in HOSA, and representing my community through pageants and volunteer service. I was fortunate to advance to HOSA Internationals in Interviewing Skills after placing first at the California State competition, and I also had the opportunity to serve as Miss Manteca and advocate for the Stockton Scottish Rite RiteCare Childhood Language Center.  

TT: Which achievement are you most proud of, and why? 

KA: I’m probably most proud of my work with RiteCare and my advocacy, both through raising money and spreading awareness. Having grown up benefiting from speech and language services myself, being able to return as an advocate and help raise awareness and support for other children made this work especially meaningful to me. 

My proudest moment, probably of my entire high school career, was the RiteCare Pack the Plaza game. Not only did the event make a huge fundraising impact, but it also felt like the culmination of everything I had become involved in throughout high school. I was able to bring together my involvement in organizations like HOSA and Multimedia, my leadership as ASB President, and the platform and influence I had as Miss Manteca to create an event that brought my school and community together for a cause that was deeply personal to me. It showed me how all of the different roles and experiences I had pursued in high school could come together to create something bigger than any one achievement on its own.  

We also beat Sierra, that was awesome! 

TT: How have your achievements helped you transition into college? 

KA: High school taught me how to walk into unfamiliar situations with confidence and figure things out. Being a student leader, competing nationally and internationally through HOSA, and participating in pageants and community service forced me to communicate with all kinds of people and become comfortable advocating for myself and others. Those experiences have made the transition to college much less intimidating because I know how to build relationships, seek opportunities, and put myself out there. 

TT: How do you think they will affect your future? 

KA: My high school experiences have shaped the kind of person and professional I want to become. They taught me that leadership is really about service and that your experiences can give you a unique perspective that is worth sharing. I was taught “leadership starts with you, but it isn’t about you” which influenced how I see leadership and how impactful it can be when truly done right. As I continue my education and pursue a career in healthcare, I hope to carry those lessons with me and continue advocating, given that I was blessed with the resources, story, and community that I have had, I believe it’s my responsibility to use those blessings to further empower others. 

TT: How are you continuing to make an impact on your community? 

KA: I’m continuing to stay involved through volunteer service and advocacy, I continue to serve RiteCare as their state brand ambassador, and since graduation have been featured in university of the pacific articles and other promotional materials. I also continue to serve as Miss Southern California teen volunteer and will be continuing to compete for Miss California teen volunteer in September. Starting college doesn’t mean leaving my community behind or starting over my path. If anything, I see it as an opportunity to expand my impact, meet new people, and bring what I’ve learned in my hometown into the next chapter of my life. 

TT: What advice would you give to current high school students? 

KA: Don’t wait until you feel completely ready to take an opportunity. Some of the experiences that changed me most came from saying yes before I knew exactly what I was doing. Get involved, try things that scare you a little, and don’t be afraid to put yourself in rooms where you’re not sure you belong yet. Your high school years go by incredibly quickly, so make them about more than just your grades. You have to build relationships, serve your community, and create memories you’ll actually carry with you. My favorite piece of advice however, is everything happens for a reason, God doesn’t give you a challenge you can’t handle.  

TT: Who would you like to thank for supporting you? 

KA: I would first thank my mom Peggy Sue for believing in me and supporting every crazy idea, competition, event, and opportunity I pursued throughout high school. I’m also incredibly grateful to my teachers, mentors, coaches, pageant directors, and community organizations that invested their time in helping me grow. It truly took a team to achieve everything I did. Every achievement I have ever had started with a teacher who told me I have the capability before I even understood I could do it myself. I would have never won internationals without the support of Miss Behler, I would never have been able to do the Pack the Plaza fundraisers without the enthusiasm and dedication from Mr. Burns, and I wouldn’t have ever done Fire Baton in Manteca’s stadium without the unwavering support and love from Mrs. Hjelmstad. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the people who encouraged me to keep saying yes, keep serving, and keep pushing myself.