The Young Ones is a series of Q & A’s with the youth in Raglan. This week the Chronicle caught up with 14-year-old Charlie Irvin-Thomson.
What school do you go to?
Raglan Area School
What do you like about it?
I don’t have to wear a uniform and I have really quirky friends.
What do you like to do and what are you involved in?
I do an internship at Ahoy Gallery behind Atamira, I do dance with Patty (Whaingaroa Youth Movement), I do Japanese with my good friend Amelia and I do parkour in Hamilton.
Who do you look up to?
Hayao Miyazaki, one of the founders of Studio Ghibli, because he is a really inspiring person, his ability to give such meaning to stories is so unique.
What’s the benefit of living in Raglan?
The fact that the ocean is right on our door step and that our community is really close and works hard for our well being.
How could Raglan be improved for it’s youth?
For adults to understand how our society is affecting the way kids are starting to act, dress and be essentially, because of the way we look up to popular people especially advertising, singers and actors it makes us look really confused and trying to be some one we’re not in adults eyes.
Best thing about social media?
How easy it is to connect with friends and it’s something to do while you’re bored.
Worst thing about social media?
Grumpy adults talking about how bad social media is and how we’re going to get square eyes, cut us some slack your generation WAS the one that invented the internet and basically every hand held device.
What is the biggest issue facing the world right now?
The fact that climate change is happening and no one is really doing much to stop it even with the facts that state how we won’t be able to live on earth in the year 2055 because of how much we’ve destroyed the planet then we called it “progress”.
The country you would most like to visit?
Well I would love to visit Japan for the food and the culture.
If you were stuck in an elevator for 24 hours with one person – who would you like that person to be?
If I had the perfect world it would be one of my favorite anime/fictional characters but in the real world probably Tom Hiddleston.
Best book you’ve ever read?
Pet Sematary by Stephen King.
Best movie you’ve ever seen?
Spirited Away.
You have the exact same meal for the next 12 months. What’s your pick?
Sushi, definitely.
If you were an animal what would you be?
A wolf.
If you were a car, what would you be?
A galaxy painted Lamborghini or sports car.
What gives you the creeps?
John Key signing the TPPA other than that nothing really.
What two things would be on your desert island?
An airport and pilot.
Favorite website?
KissAnime.com
In 10 years I see myself……
With lots of cats.
