INTERVIEW: Liv Williams
PHOTOS: Kate Dyer
We’ve had the pleasure of sitting down with a group of these awesome young minds, chatting about school, life, parents, dreams, and how they’re shaping the future, one cool idea at a time. Get ready to be inspired by their unique perspectives, as they share what makes them tick and what keeps them dreaming big.
Rosie
Age: 9
What do you think is the most challenging thing about growing up?
The most challenging thing about growing up for me is losing family members.
What’s your dream job, and what do you think it takes to get there?
My dream job is to be a professional race walker and travel the world doing different races. It will definitely take a lot of hard work and dedication to make that happen.
If you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be?
If I could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow it would be no racism or sexism!
How do you think the world could be a better place?
If lots of people didn’t swear!
What’s something you wish adults understood better about being your age?
I wish that adults knew exactly how it feels when you hurt yourself, because sometimes when you hurt yourself adults just say “you’ll be fine”.
Henry
Age: 12
What do you think is the most challenging thing about growing up?
The responsibility that you get when you go to high school, because it’s up to you to get to your lessons on time. If you don’t, that’s on you, and you get into trouble.
How important is social media to you and why?
I don’t have a care in the world for social media.
What’s your favourite hobby and why does it make you happy?
My favourite hobby is archery, because it’s relaxing and it makes me feel like I’m good at something.
What’s something about the adult world you find confusing or fascinating?
I have no idea how adults keep up with it all because it honestly seems really difficult!
What’s your go-to snack or comfort food?
My go to snack is an apple because it doesn’t take much effort to eat or make!
How do you think the world could be a better place?
The world could be a better place if everyone played their part by being sustainable and not creating as much waste as we currently do.
What’s something you wish adults understood better about being your age?
I wish adults understood the fact that sometimes you feel like you’re not being listened to, and you just want someone to hear you before trying to explain something to you.
Olive
Age: 13
What do you think is the most challenging thing about growing up?
Balancing my interests over school work and the endless jobs given out by my parents *eye roll*.
If you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be?
Be nice. Just be polite to other people, help out strangers you don’t know and generally look after one another!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Take opportunity. Because it means take the chance to have fun and do good things.
How do you handle tough situations?
I talk to people about the problem, especially my mum and dad, and I also listen to music that fits whatever mood I’m in.
What’s something about the adult world you find confusing or fascinating?
Why all adults don’t just eat lollies and ice cream all day every day, even though they can.
How do you think the world could be a better place?
If there were just random puppies roaming around that you can cuddle wherever you go.
What’s something you wish adults understood better about being your age?
Just because I stayed up 5 minutes past my bedtime one night, it doesn’t mean every single time I yawn I’m sleep deprived and need to go to bed at 5:30.
Marcel
Age: 11
What’s your dream job, and what do you think it takes to get there?
I want to be a professional soccer player and play for Manchester United, like Ronaldo and sporting like my grandfather. I think I need to train a lot and practice all of my tricks every day.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do?
I would go to England, to play soccer with the English kids.
What’s something you wish adults understood better about being your age?
Why I like to play PlayStation after school and talk to my friends at the same time. My parents played something called SEGA and it’s not the same thing we do now.
If you could change one rule at school, what would it be?
The rule I would change would be to allow students to have as many lollies as they want, instead of eating brain food at recess.
Claudia
Age: 12
What’s the coolest thing about being you?
The coolest thing about being me is everything, because I love being myself and I wouldn’t want to change anything about me.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
The super power I would choose is flight. I have had dreams about flying and they are really fun. When I wake up and find out that I can’t fly I get a bit annoyed. I feel like flying would feel free. I would have freedom and I just think it would be really fun in general.
What do you think is the most challenging thing about growing up?
I think the most challenging thing about growing up is everything. Friends act differently towards you and you see different sides of them you have never seen before, you become a bit rude and start having a bad attitude. You have more responsibilities and now everyone thinks more about you and gives you more trust than ever. You are a role model to younger ones and they look up to you as a star. You have to make decisions that you would never have thought you would have had to make. Growing up is tough but I think if everyone tries their hardest it will become easier for people.
How important is social media to you, and why?
I don’t really have much to do with social media. I am not allowed apps like twitter, snap chat, TikTok, and Instagram. I do have messages though to talk to friends. I feel social media is a big thing in people’s lives, but it comes with pros and cons. Social media can be dangerous but at the same time it can be fun. You can connect with friends more than maybe you have before. I feel people use the safe apps like messages, calls, and facetime less now that all these new apps have come out into the world. To me social media is important for communicating with friends, but other than that I don’t feel it’s too important to me.
What’s your dream job, and what do you think it takes to get there?
My dream job is to be a performer on stage for acting, dancing, and singing. I have loved this since I was tiny and I really want this job badly. I feel I have the skills to pursue this dream although I may need to work on my dancing.
If you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be?
One rule that I would make that everyone in the world would have to follow would be, every year every country’s government would have to pay all homeless in the country $10,000. That way there would be less poverty in the world as homeless people would have money to afford more things.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The best piece of advice I have ever received is probably when one of my friends told me to save up my money and all my gift cards so that one day I can have a big shopping spree/day with friends.
What do you think is the most exciting thing about the future?
The most exciting thing about the future is when I am able to drive, have enough money to go on shopping sprees, new Sol De Janeiro scents come out, I am able to get my first job, when I am able to use famous skin care that will help my skin not ruin it.
How do you handle tough situations?
In tough situations I tell my friends what’s happening and I ask them what I should do. I tell my parents but also try to solve the problem myself.
What’s something about the adult world you find confusing or fascinating?
The thing I find confusing about the adult world is how grown ups manage to do everything at once. But also, how they never seem to understand how a kid is feeling. It’s a bit weird since they were kids once!
How do you think the world could be a better place?
The world could be a better place by making a hotel for homeless people and it’s free. That way there is no pleading and sadness on the streets.
What’s something you wish adults understood better about being your age?
I think something I wish parents understood better about our age is how hard it is and confusing…It’s stressful and scary.
Roy
Age: 10
What’s your dream job?
To own a fishing charter business.
If you could make one rule everyone in the world has to follow, what would it be?
No school on fridays!
What’s your favourite way to spend time with friends?
Fishing!
Gracie
Age: 11
What’s your fave hobby and why does it make you happy?
My favourite hobby at the moment is making paper puppet dragons. It makes me happy as I get to be creative and make so many different designs and I am now taking requests from friends and custom making paper dragons for them too.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
If I could have any superpower it would be time travel. I would like to go into the future so I can make sure our world is still safe and people are happy. I could also go into the past to see real dinosaurs roaming the earth.
What’s your favourite way to spend time with friends?
My favourite way to spend time with friends is by the beach swimming, playing in the sand dunes, gaming with my school friends and playing soccer and other sports.
If you could change one rule at school, what would it be?
If I could change one rule at school it would be no homework. We already have enough at school and then after school activities! We need more time to rest after school I think.
Lulu
Age: 12
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do?
I would love to travel to Europe but mainly Greece, because it is so beautiful and I would love to eat all the traditional foods and swim at all the beautiful beaches.
What is your go-to snack or comfort food?
My comfort snack is frozen mango because it is so refreshing and delicious.
How do you think the world could be a better place?
I think the world could be a better place if we all spread kindness instead of hate.
George
Age: 11
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would love to be able to fly, so I can fly anywhere in the world.
What’s your dream job, and what do you think it takes to get there?
To be a cricket player and play for Australia. It would take a lot of practice, skill and positivity.
What’s your favourite hobby and why does it make you happy?
Fishing because I get to do it with my best mate and I love being in nature.
Kit
Age: 12
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would want to be able to fly. I like the idea of soaring over the city and flying alongside birds.
How important is social media to you, and why?
It is important because it’s a way to see the world, in the same way my parents watched TV growing up. I also communicate with friends with it.
What’s your dream job, and what do you think it takes to get there?
I want to be an actor, I’ve already been in a few films with my Dad’s film company. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and acting classes which I’m taking.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do?
I would go back to Japan because I loved it so much. Eat sushi and ramen. Late night shopping and eating buffet breakfasts everyday!
