OUT THERE, DOING IT ... A new Chronicle series charting the success stories of former Whanganui students.
At 21, Josh Chandulal-Mackay, sits in an ideal chair - both literally and figuratively.
Dubbed a "politics guru" by some of those who supported him in the October election campaign, he said being the youngest representative on the Whanganui District Council "doesn't feel like work".
Mr Chandulal-Mackay's political passion stems from years of hard work - and career indecision.
"Growing up, I was very artistic and I wanted to be a film director, but by year 13 I changed my mind to psychology ... and now I'm in politics."
The former Wanganui Collegiate School student said from year 10 to year 13 his career paths were always changing.
His year 13 subjects were art history, history, English, design and product design and, after Collegiate, he left Whanganui to study a for a degree in arts in politics and psychology at Massey University in Palmerston North.
By that stage, he intended to become a geriatric psychologist addressing mental health needs of the elderly, but he redirected his pathway after his flatmates called an "intervention".
"They sat me down and said, 'Josh, when you come home, you don't talk about psychology; you talk about politics'."
Mr Chandulal-Mackay said he realised psychology was starting to feel more like a chore and politics felt more like a passion.
"Politics is an art that directly affects people's lives."
At the beginning of 2016 he began his postgraduate diploma in politics with the aim of becoming a member of New Zealand's Labour Party.
Circumstances changed when he was offered the role of Whanganui youth services administrator, developing project plans. After accepting the job, he rediscovered his enjoyment of local governance and, in July, announced his campaign to run as a Whanganui councillor.
"It involved a lot of door-knocking and an active presence on social media. I wanted to reach all people in the community," he said.
To students unsure about the future, Mr Chandulal-Mackay recommends joining different groups and expanding friendships to realise the range of careers available.
He completed Youthline training in 2013 and volunteered for the two years following that, as well as campaigning for the Labour Party for 2 years. At school he got involved in extra-curricula activities including the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and helping at the local Nazareth rest home.
"Students shouldn't be ashamed to ask questions - it's how I deal with challenges in my job every day," he said.
He aims to one day become MP for Whanganui.