Cameron Boyce is at the age of asking big questions. Although freshly graduated, the 18-year-old triple threat is not taking the summer off to answer them. His blockbuster Descendants 2 premieres July 21st and things will clearly get crazy. While browsing through his Instagram feed, I notice his 4.5 million followers are relentlessly commenting on his pictures -- gaggling over his freckled face- all agog to see how he spends his day.

Although he starts off our conversation telling me he didn’t clean his room, (will mom be mad?) Boyce has a natural poise and levelheadedness that separates him from other 18 year-olds. What makes those who begin show business at a young age so mature? Child stars who are successful have a serious dedication to the craft. Tackling the audition process gives you perseverance to keep going through the rejection. Cameron has glided his way through show business and looks at the process with clear eyes, “It is important for me to stay on my toes because there is no audition that is like the other. I go in without expectations. If you harp on it too much you will drive yourself crazy.”

As a native Angelino who has spent the majority of his life on television and in movies, you would think Boyce would carry around a specific stigma. But when we speak he carries no pompous tone. Instead, he wholeheartedly gushes about his love for SoCal and how it has formulated who he is today. “It is the greatest city in the world. LA is one of the meccas for creativity, it is one of desirable cities to move to express yourself. To break away from normality and dive into who you are. It is a city of people clawing and fighting for their dreams. I think that can come with a bit of competitiveness and cattiness, but when do you think about it, it is inspiring to be in a situation where I grew up 20 minutes away from any casting office. I can’t picture myself living anywhere else. Every time I travel I am happy to do it, but when I get back, I am grateful to say ‘I live here!’”

Boyce never saw acting as a job, or a way to make money. It was simply what was around him- he is a true product of his surroundings. He grew up in the dance studio and performing. And naturally, in LA, a lot of his dance friends were also auditioning. “It was never an ah-ha moment of this is my career! I always thought about it as something fun to do. And that’s why I still do it. The day I don’t enjoy it anymore is the day I will stop.”

Ten minutes into our conversation and I want to hang with Cameron. His merriment energy seeps through the phone. “How would you describe yourself?” I ask. “Are you a chill, LA person?” “Hmm... I think so. I’m not a surfer dude, I actually have never surfed before, but in terms of personality, I am very easy-going. I’m like a lizard – I could sit in the sun all day, take in all the rays, it seriously recharges me. I am I am laid back, I let all the craziness roll off.” I ask for some local LA tips and he dives right in. “Instead of taking you to Zuma, I would take you to Westward. Instead of taking you to Runyon, I would take you to Wisdom Tree. We would eat a lot of Mexican food.” Solidifying my point- who wouldn’t want to spend time with Cameron?

Here is the icing on the cake. When I ask him what he is doing to celebrate his 18th, graduating high school, and premiering his movie he dives into his partnership with the Thirst Project. Boyce is an avid supporter for access to clean water. His dream is to end the global water crisis. “I am asking my followers, friends, and family to donate for my birthday. $6.25 buys a person clean water for life. A large Starbucks cup can potentially save a life. How easy it is to make an impact on someone’s life. No presents, just donate.”

“If we come together as a society and raise each other up. People in my position, comfortably living or living in the public eye, we need to stir the pot and get conversations started. It is so important. Even if you don’t see the impact you make on people you are still making the impact. Regardless which way to lean, make your case heard and speak out. So many different issues we are scared to touch as a society, or feel like we have resolved, but they are completely not. We have to take a good, hard look at ourselves in the mirror.”