The most nonchalant guy at Carrillo
Shioda’s senior pictures ( Quinn Shioda )
By Alexa Rios, Executive Editor
When I first met senior Soren Shioda in my freshman year of high school, I thought two things: “This guy is way too smart for me,” and “Wow, I wish we were friends.” I later found out that he honestly thought I was annoying. It's a bit disheartening, but not something to take personally. He’s authentic in and out of the spotlight, yet he never fails to impress. This mentality stems from his personal experience at Maria Carrillo High School.
One of the first things you must know about him is that Shioda’s record has been impressive. Committing to USC for applied mathematics is a dream come true, and he deserves it. Shioda appreciated the value of education at an elite school and is confident enough in his abilities to succeed. He always puts in the work, “never cutting corners…if you’re doing something you gotta do it right.” As a whole, Maria Carrillo High School has always been academically focused; our rigor is evident, and many students take pride in the education they receive. For Shioda, it's an opportunity to prepare for a prosperous future. “My goal in life is to be happy and comfortable for the short time we have on earth.”
Simply put, he’s a competitive person with the drive to win. To him, winning is similar to success and doing well in life. But don’t get him wrong—it’s not the amount of money he makes or anything, but rather what it brings him. Funny enough, he’s not passionate about any particular field or subject, which adds to his nonchalant attitude. He is effortlessly good at many things, including sports, academics, and public speaking. Regardless of this, nothing sparks his interest enough to be a passion. While he hopes to find his footing eventually, he continues striving to improve himself in various aspects and not stick to one particular talent, nor dishearten him from being the best he can be.
I wouldn’t call Shioda an introvert or an extrovert; he falls somewhere in the middle. He’s outgoing when willing to, but often, he won’t go to school events. For example, he’s never been to a single Homecoming, rarely attends sports events, and isn’t spontaneous. “I keep things to myself.” Continuously shrouding himself in mystery, he’s one of those universally known people. He’s not remarkable for one specific talent, which is hard to find in other people.
Speaking of how you portray yourself, does anyone remember freshman year, Shioda? He was cold and admits it by saying, “You grow up with people and expect them to fit in [into a school]. How can you meet new people and make uncommon friendships in a new school and environment, and not know about it?” Shioda describes his first year as being quiet and not talking too much. But surprisingly, he doesn’t regret it at all, as that's just who he was back then, just a product of his environment.