Posted by Lieutenant Commander Janusz Korczak (Counselor) in Counselor’s Office - Cadet Woolley Check-in with Ship’s Counselor

Posted by Cadet Maximilian Woolley (Doctor) in Counselor’s Office - Cadet Woolley Check-in with Ship’s Counselor
<snip>

The Lieutenant Commander looked at the Cadet for a moment and then said simply “Tell me about yourself, Cadet. What brings you to Star Fleet and the Challenger?”

Korczak, CNS

Max placed the PADD on his lap, then rubbed his palms together gently before placing them on his knees.

“I did my undergraduate work at New York University. I went to Columbia to work on a PhD in biology but I never completed my dissertation. I decided that I wanted to pursue medicine so I began exploring my options. As my life, up to this point, was fairly Earth-centric and, worse still, very New York centric for the most part I wanted to break out of my comfort zone. My father was a starfleet science officer at the beginning of his career before becoming a biology professor. I think that his decision to choose a quiet and less travel intensive lifestyle makes sense when you take it in the context of his whole career. He started out traveling to the far reaches of the galaxy. So that he wanted to settle down where he could hike familiar trails makes quite a bit of sense. For me, I never saw the things he did. I felt that I needed to see beyond what I knew to grow as a person and a professional.”

Though Max was, at times, a bit uncomfortable with his Starfleet skin he was also confident in his delivery and in his purpose.

Max Woolley, Medical

Korczak tilted his head slightly to the side and looked intently at the Medical Cadet. “There are many other professions that would allow you to travel extensively. Why Star Fleet in particular?”

Korczak, CNS

Max didn’t pause. Smiling slightly he answered, while maintaining eye contact with the counselor.

“I don’t want to limit my practice to treating holodeck injuries on a freighter, sir. Nor do I want to say that my work accomplished little more than tending to passengers. I am, of course, committed to serving the people of this, or any future, starfleet ship. But I also recognize that my skills may be called upon to serve civilians we encounter. Even aggressors under certain circumstances. As a physician, here, I’ll be challenged to work in ever changing situations working, perhaps, with species and races I might never encounter on Earth or even in a variety of outposts or colonies. “

He smiled, becoming a bit more animated as he delivered that last bit. Before finishing off simply “Besides, I believe being a science officer helped my father to be a better biologist. I’d be lying if I didn’t acknowledge his role in encouraging me to pursue Starfleet, largely by his example.”

Max Woolley, Medical

Korczak listened and returned the Cadet’s gaze as he spoke. When he finished, Korczak looked down at the PaDD and made a few notes. Looking up through his spectacles, the Lieutenant Commander said “Very well, Cadet. I have completed my initial assessment. Do you have any questions for me?”

Korczak, CNS

Max looked at Korczak for a moment, looking for any hint of what he was thinking or any sort of emotional response to what he was saying. Nothing. Max found himself with an instinct to probe for some sort of feedback. Though, logic kicked in as he had this sense that this was possibly the counselor’s MO. Basically, his silence and non-reactive nature leading people to talk more freely in hopes of evoking some sort of response.

It was, he thought, either an amazing discipline that Korczak exhibited or else Max was just thinking into things a bit too much. Either way, he simply smiled a bit as the counselor spoke.

“No sir, I have no questions.”

Max Woolley, Medical