Anderson Puente, a smart, easygoing freshman here at Mt. SAC Early College Academy (MECA), is enjoying his first year of high school a lot. From his love of football to his dedication in class, Anderson is navigating high school with the same chill confidence he’s always had. But it’s not just his smart brain that makes him stand out, it’s his fun and caring personality.

Anderson comes from San Jose Charter Academy in West Covina, California. Coming to MECA was a bit of a family decision for Anderson.

“I came to MECA mostly for the college classes,” he shared, explaining that the smaller class sizes and focus on college work appealed to him.

Anderson’s twin brother, Julian Puente, also a student at MECA, has much to say about his brother. He admits that Anderson can be a bit of a “nerd” sometimes, although in a good way.

“He’s really smart, organized, and caring,” Julian said with a laugh.

It is clear that the twins have a strong bond with each other and care for each other a lot. “It can be annoying at times [to be Anderson’s twin], but usually he’s more helpful than he is annoying, [or] maybe I just have low patience with him… he likes to procrastinate,” commented Julian.

Although the Puente brothers are very different, they both share hobbies like flag football and video games. “We both enjoy action video games,” Julian shared

An unexpected skill that Anderson has is that he is very good at Rock Paper Scissors. Julian exclaimed that “[Anderson’s] good at Rock, Paper, Scissors I’ll tell you that. He always beats me at Rock, Paper, Scissors. That’s why I don’t play [Rock, Paper, Scissors] with him anymore.”

Despite his intelligence, Anderson’s personality shines through in other ways. Julian described him as “shy but smart,” which fits Anderson well. He’s not the loudest person in the room, but when you get to know him, his kind personality and sense of humor come to light.

Anderson also explained that his dedication for working so hard comes from his mother.. “My mom inspires me a lot because, like, she’s really hard-working, and she shows where you can get with hard work and dedication. If you want to do something, you can do it,” he said.

He’s already decided that he is going to take college courses over the next few years, but he doesn’t want to get his Associates degree.

“I wouldn’t want to get an AA cause it’s too much work, and I don’t think I wanna work that much. I don’t wanna overwork myself.,” he explained.

A lot of times, people expect twins to do everything together, but that is not the case. Julian explains that his and his twin brother have very different futures in mind.

“I wouldn’t see Anderson and I attending the same university even if we had the opportunity, we have very different goals and interests,” Julian said.

Julian is aiming for Cal Poly Pomona, while Anderson isn’t sure which college he wants to attend. He is sure that he wants to major in engineering or something math-related. “I’m good at math, and it’s not that hard for me,” Anderson exclaimed.

While his future goals might seem focused, Anderson also knows how to enjoy his free time. His hobbies are playing video games, flag football, and hanging out with his friends.

“I like playing sports, especially football, and playing with my friends online,” Anderson said.

Anderson’s teachers have noticed his commitment and dedication in class. Johan Cordero, a Spanish teacher, admires Anderson’s ability to stay on task and get his work done without causing any fuss.

“[He is a] nice kid, quiet, pays attention, he’s not disruptive. All good things,” Cordero said.

A piece of advice Cordero wants to give Anderson is to always give his all into whatever he wants to do.

“Keep working hard, keep studying, and always make sure you beat your brother in everything in life,” Cordero jokingly said.

Anderson’s a lot to look forward to, both in terms of school and personal growth. While he’s not exactly thrilled about anything specific for his sophomore year, he’s ready for the journey. “Maybe meeting more people will be fun,” he said with a smile.

It’s clear that Anderson has a solid foundation for success, whether in the classroom, on the football field, or with his friends. Anderson is making his freshman year one to remember. Whatever ups and downs his future holds, he’s ready to face each moment with a positive outlook and a willingness to learn. We can’t wait to see where he goes from here.