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Calm and confident, Alex Soto is a student with big plans. The cognitive science major is currently working with teachers to start a pilot high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Soto wants to give students a chance to have an impact on their own education.

“The whole point would be to give students a better voice, giving them a chance to rate their teachers like we do in college,” Soto said. “We would also like to see teachers being rated by their peers, and instead of just having a PTA, we would like to have a council with students in it, as well as members of the community.”

Soto describes the plan for the school as charter-esque, but still under the jurisdiction of the LAUSD. He believes that allowing students to sit on the board would let their voices be truly heard and prepare them to take leadership roles in the future.

Soto grew up in Highland Park, near its border with Eagle Rock, and says that he knew very early on what path he wanted to take in his life.

“I’ve wanted to get into politics since I was 2 years old,” he said.

“The moment I found out that there was a president and found out that [the position] served the people, I decided that’s what I wanted to do,” Soto added. “I want to help move this world into the future, and that’s what every politician should try to do: forget about their own gains and think about everyone else’s gains.”

Also deeply involved at PCC, Soto was recently elected to the vice president of external affairs position during last week’s Associated Students elections.

Soto comes from a strong family and says that they have always supported him in his goals.

He attended Burbank Middle School and from there he went on to Franklin High School, where he eventually became captain of the football team.

“I played some time in every position-except quarterback and cornerback, because I had no arm and couldn’t run as fast as a cornerback, but I was the best cover linebacker,” he said.

One of his running mates during the AS election was Jamie Hammond, the newly-elected AS President.

“Alex is a soldier when it comes to the things he is passionate about. His dedication and ambition are quite astounding,” Hammond said. “He is the type of person to take direction for a task, and then perform the task in three different ways.

“He isn’t the type to fit into the characteristics of one category or stereotype, and balances his nerdy side with his jock side really well,” she added.

Soto is currently in his first year at PCC. He plans to transfer and get a degree in cognitive science, and then plans to go to law school. Eventually, he wants to run for public office.

In his downtime, Soto can be found reading graphic novels, playing video games or checking political blogs. He is also a fan of Japanese anime.

“News, video games and cartoons help me wind down,” said Soto. “Quiet semi-meditation helps as well.”

Soto volunteers with high school students, acting as a teacher’s assistant. He also helps with the Academic Decathlon team at his high school.

“I always feel that I have to give back somehow,” said Soto.

Nolan Pack, recently elected as Student Trustee, also ran alongside Soto during the elections.

“Alex is by far one of the hardest working people I’ve met in a very long time,” said Pack. “He is the type of person that if something needs to be done, he will take the initiative and get it done.

“He has a really broad range of interests. He is constantly learning new things and is very aware of the world around him,” Pack added. “He would be the type of politician that could really change the world.”

Soto sees education as the cornerstone of a good democracy.

“Without education you can’t have too much of a democracy; it won’t flourish as well as it should,” Soto said. “Without strong voices, those decisions that should be made won’t be heard and those opinions that should be heard won’t be known.

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