“I’m proud to be from WSU because there’s so much that can’t be taught in a classroom. It also has to come from experiences and the people you met in school. WSU attracts such a spirited, lively, optimistic, joyful group of people where no matter what you look like, where you came from, how much money you have in the bank – we are all Cougars at the end of the day.”
Scott Shigeoka (’11 Journalism)
Discover the power of curiosity in Shigeoka’s book SEEK: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World releasing today!
Originally from Hawaii, Shigeoka found his way to Washington State University through a high school recruiter and a desire for adventure. His extroverted personality led him to the Murrow College where Shigeoka fell in love with interviewing and writing. A gifted storyteller, Shigeoka was a pioneer in the Murrow Backpack Journalism program, reporting on the people and culture of Guatemala. From his first job as a music writer for The Washington Post to a Fulbright MTV Fellow in Iceland, Shigeoka combines infectious energy with thoughtfulness to build connections and embrace change.
Shigeoka is now an internationally recognized “curiosity” expert whose influence is felt in the public sector, Hollywood, media, education and businesses. In an “era of incuriosity,” Shigeoka provides tools to navigate the complexities of our times with a renewed sense of interest and understanding.
5 Questions with Scott Shigeoka (’11 Journalism), Curiosity Expert
Why curiosity?
It’s something we’re all born with and since the dawn of time we have needed it to survive. I was one of those kids that asked a million questions, and curiosity has created opportunities I could never have imagined. It is a tool to give us courage, strengthen our relationships and ultimately contributes to our satisfaction and happiness in life. When you practice your curiosity and you are open-hearted and open-minded, it actually inspires other people to do the same.
How do you grow your curiosity?
Curiosity is a muscle. Just like your abs or glutes — if you don’t use it, it can atrophy. If you strengthen it, you become more equipped to use curiosity in different situations and in a more competent way. Like lifting weights, you can go from 20 lbs. to 40 lbs. and continue to gain strength. The other piece to remember is you can’t go too fast, too quickly because you need rest. You need to start small or else you might injure yourself or injure other people in the process. The same is true for curiosity, I write in the book.
I myself am a progressive and I went to Trump rallies to meet people. I am queer and I met organizations that are trying to pass anti-LGBTQ legislation. That’s like benching 300lbs. You don’t start there, but if you use your curiosity and practice over and over again, you can eventually do those harder and more uncomfortable things.
Which teachers influenced your success?
There are so many, but one who definitely was an influence was Tracey Idica who championed me through a challenging situation in high school. I was told I wasn’t good at writing and blocked from registering for an AP writing class. She fought to have me in her class and showed me that I do have a voice and the right to be heard. At WSU, I took a course from Ben Shors and he recognized my love and talent for storytelling. We talked about a career path in journalism and from there my passion took flight.
What are your best student memories?
Some of my best times were at Cable 8, literally laughing until the late hours and being in the Daily Evergreen room with other writers and feeling like real-life journalists. They were good times of messing up and being young and not knowing how to do things right. Like the first time someone went on air or when an interview for The Evergreen goes wrong. We could all laugh about it. It was a great learning opportunity to just get yourself in there.
What advice would you give current students?
Take advantage of experiential learning. There’s only so much you can get from theoretical learning in a classroom like concepts and ideas. It’s an important foundation, but you actually need to do apply it. You need to be in front of the camera, you need to write articles, you need to interview people, you need to try to hustle to get your name known out on campus so that you can understand what it’s like to promote something – exercise those muscles to help you understand. Luckily, the Murrow College teaches you skills that are especially the soft skills that are so transferable to any career!
