Leer en Español, traducido por El Vocero Hispano
Godwin Heights — When it comes to cake pops, Annet Lopez-Pinedo says it’s all about finding the right balance.
“The dough can’t be too heavy or it falls off the stick, and the chocolate can’t be too thin or it’ll break,” said the Godwin Heights High School junior, who owns her own goodies shop, Annet Sweets.
Leadership, like baking, is also about balance.
“I know a lot of people think a leader is someone others simply follow,” Annet said. “But for me, being a leader means inspiring and helping others reach their goals. I don’t want people to follow me just for the sake of it — I want to help them become leaders themselves.”
In October, Annet received the Committee to Honor César E. Chávez Youth Award for exemplifying Chávez’s principles of service, justice, and nonviolence. The award honors students who lead by example and inspire positive change in their schools and communities.
Annet said she had not heard of the award, but after some research, discovered what a “big honor” it is.
“When I got home and told my parents, they were just as shocked as I was,” Annet said. “None of us — not my family, not my school, not even my relatives — had ever heard of anyone receiving that award before. Knowing I was the first from my family and my school to get it felt so inspiring. I was just so proud and grateful — it honestly didn’t feel real at first.”
Annet was nominated by Kent ISD for her participation in the Student Leadership Community, a forum for which students across the intermediate district share perspectives on current issues in education.
Jenny Fee, Kent ISD assistant superintendent of instructional services and lead facilitator for the group, described Annet as a well-rounded student with thoughtful insights and valuable contributions to the annual “Listen. Lead. Learn.” event.
“She’s been just a really engaged participant, always contributing to conversations, interacting with lots of students,” Fee said. “She’s really open to meeting new people and learning from new people.”
Taking the First Step
Annet, who began her education in kindergarten at Godwin Heights, recalled thinking of the high school as an easy place to get lost, but she put herself in a good position to find her way. Following the advice of her eighth-grade teachers, she focused on academics and ended middle school with a 4.0 grade-point average.
During freshman year, Annet noticed students being featured on the school’s broadcast program, WBC News, for their accomplishments in sports and academics. She was inspired to step out of her comfort zone and grow into a leader.
She also had a family legacy of leadership as her brother, 2024 graduate Henry Lopez-Pinedo, was a well-known leader at the school.
Annet got the opportunity to join the Kent ISD Student Leadership Community her sophomore year.
“I really noticed how there were other students from other districts, and how they got along with other people,” she said. “I’m a shy person and I don’t know how to interact with people, or I stutter a lot of times, but once I got used to these meetings and got to know people, I got more confident and actually wanted to do something.”
She created a video with classmate La’Rae Murray for last year’s “Listen. Learn. Lead.” program featuring Godwin Heights students sharing their thoughts on security, mental health and engagement.
“After the event, people came up to us saying that the video was inspiring,” Annet said. “So it motivated me more to go out and do something.”
Stepping Into New Opportunities
Annet has continued adding to her high-school accomplishments, now serving as class president and in a variety of other roles.
“It’s not the importance of being a class president,” Annet said of the position. “It’s just to help others and motivate others to not give up and if they have a dream, to go follow that dream.”
On Student Council, she helps plan school activities, and for National Honor Society, she attended the Feeding America food truck at the high school to serve as a translator.
Annet also is an editor for the yearbook, on the soccer team, and after school enjoys running, baking and operating Annet Sweets.
High School Principal Mike Porco said Annet juggles all her activities while maintaining her academics and lifting up those around her, which fits with the Youth Award criteria.
“Annet not only embodies Chávez’s values of service, justice, and nonviolence, but lives them out through her daily actions,” Porco said. “As a true role model, she inspires others through her example, motivating her peers to pursue positive and purposeful change.”
The past two years have been a whirlwind, Annet said, but she would not change them.
“I would tell freshman me to just be prepared and keep going with your dream,” Annet said. “I know you might be scared because you’re going to start getting older, but as you get older, you have so many more opportunities and take those opportunities.”
Annet continues to pursue new opportunities to grow as a leader. She recently attended the Student Leadership Summit at Comstock Park and is helping organize the 2025 “Listen. Learn. Lead.” event. Looking ahead to senior year, she hopes to continue serving as class president and remain active in the Student Leadership Community.
While she enjoys baking, Annet said she does not plan on making it a career. Instead she would like to focus on either soccer or finance, since math is her favorite subject.
Annet shared advice for eighth-graders preparing to enter high school, encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones.
“You might be scared at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll see high school isn’t as bad as you think. There will be plenty of opportunities — so take them.”
Read more from Godwin Heights:
• ‘Starting a new chapter:’ Graduate overcomes challenges, finds confidence and career path
• Future teacher follows her dreams to help students do the same
