He might have wanted to become a super villain when he was young, but he ended up being more of a hero. Ryan Donaldson, 22, is coordinator of Tu Toa Whangarei, the bullying behaviour awareness and prevention project run by Whangarei Youth Space.
1. Describe yourself in three words.
Calm, creative, confident.
2. What is the most important advice you have ever been given?
That's hard. One piece would come from the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Sharpen the saw - meaning preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have - yourself.
3. What album is playing on your stereo/computer at the moment?
MF DOOM & Madlib - Madvillainy.
4. What cheers you up when you feel down?
Family, PS4 or music.
5. What is the one thing you could not live without each day?
Family.
6. As a child, who or what did you want to be when you grew up? And why?
I think I wanted to be an actual super villain. Because what's a hero without a cool villain? I was (still am) obsessed with comic books as a kid.
7. Describe your role at the Youth Space.
I coordinate a social change project aiming at raising community awareness around bullying behaviour and tools for prevention. I get to work with groups of youth so they keep me humble and grounded.
8. What's your favourite thing about Youth Space?
That we finally have dedicated youth space for the youth of Whangarei, it's only just beginning also, so the potential for youth is huge.
9. What are the challenges you face in your role?
Apparently my ideas are not cool enough, according to the project's youth steering group. Ha ha. I'm learning that clear communication is the key to success too.
10. Tell us something that most people don't know about you.
I'd say most people don't know that when I was 17, I was a hip hop artist and went on a two-week music tour in Australia.
I had to lie about my age to perform at certain night clubs.