Posted by Ensign Vadoma Romani (Engineer) in Side Sim - Vadoma’s Psych Check in (CNS)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Royal Sinclair (Counselor) in Side Sim - Vadoma’s Psych Check in (CNS)

Posted by Lieutenant Ush’ast Rah-Triton (Chief of Security) in Side Sim - Vadoma’s Psych Check in (CNS)

Vadoma smiled as she leaned over to take her cup and lean back once more. “Well you hit it on the head. If I ever have someone ask me who can make an office not look like an office, I will mention your name. Could be a new career path for you, Sir.” She laughed and took a sip after blowing slightly on the hot beverage.

“The trip went well, thank you.” She said in answer to the interview as it began. “Settling in has been ok. Others have been kind in pointing the way if I ask and mostly it’s exactly as I studied it. The ship, I mean. I love maps. And ship specs aren’t much different. Just layers of similar maps getting larger or smaller as you move up and down.” She liked the sound of his voice, it was kind and easy. She could see him being easy to talk to if something happened. Something told her he wasn’t the accusatory, judgmental kind who assumed you were hiding something. “I’m actually looking forward to meeting my Supervisor and getting to work. Even the two days I have to relax before checking in had me pacing.” She laughed slightly. “I’m just going to be happy to be useful, I guess.” She took another sip of her drink and glanced around again, trying not to pay too much attention to the padd in his lap.

Vadoma
Engineer

Sinclair nodded and chuckled at the career-path comment. “Somehow I don’t see interior decorating in my future, but I’ll keep in in mind.”

After she had finished, he said “Tell me about your last assignment. Or are you here straight from the Academy?”

Sinclair, CNS

Vadoma smiled but it seemed almost sheepish for a moment. “First assignment. Are there many that end up here straight from school? I know some ships seem to be the ‘stepping stone’ kind. But other ships, an Academy graduate is a rare creature. So which is it in this case?” She didn’t seemed overly concerned, except a small hitch in her voice she wasn’t aware of. She wasn’t making excuses, but was certainly feeling around to see if it would be something she would have to constantly face… being the new crewmember, but also a greenie.

Vadoma
Engineer

Sinclair nodded in understanding and said “I actually came here from an Academy ship, myself. So don’t worry about this being your first posting. You may even look at it as a compliment. I was sent to an Academy ship after graduation, and so were all my classmates. Being sent straight to the fleet shows that someone thinks you have the skills necessary to do your job without that transition step. So… well done.” he added with a chuckle.

“Are you concerned that your lack of experience will be viewed poorly by the other crew?” he asked, almost as if he could read her thoughts. Which he couldn’t, but he could read her body language and tonal inflections, so it wasn’t hard to see.

Sinclair, CNS

Vadoma smiled. “Yeah, most of my classmates went to Academy ships, too. I guess I hadn’t looked at it that way. Thanks…” She took another sip of her tea as he asked exactly what had been on her mind. “He decorates well and is Betazoid to boot.” The comment was friendly, but the sigh was evident, none the less. “I guess it’s pretty normal, huh? Do walk into a position straight from school and feel like you are going to be in an uphill battle for your first cycle?”

“Very normal. And it doesn’t take telepathy to figure that out. Everyone is nervous at their first duty station.”

As if a weight was off her shoulders, she leaned back a bit into the couch. “Ok, yeah… I mean, how do you deal with that? You come in and give the knowledge you have, do your job, and you are a show off. But if I act stupid, then I’m undermining myself and the Academy that put me here. How do you do both, and neither of them at the same time?”

Vadoma
Engineer

Sinclair cocked his head to the side and thought for a moment. “Well, I think there is an aspect you are missing. If you act stupid, yes, you set yourself up for failure. But I think you can temper the ‘showing off’ aspect by demonstrating a willingness to learn. Someone sharing knowledge and gaining experience isn’t showing off unless you believe at the beginning that you know everything already. If you show that you have a good grasp of the knowledge you do have, but also strive to learn and better yourself in that capacity, you will find a much more welcoming reception… especially with those who have been around a while. Does that make sense to you? What do you think?”

Sinclair, CNS

“So know it, but then ask about something I don’t know. That makes sense. I know there are things I need to learn, some ship specific, others just job related. So finding out what strength my mentor has, and being willing to learn without playing stupid makes sense. I hadn’t given that a thought before. Thank you.” She finished her drink and smiled. “Can you also help me unpack and decorate?” She laughed and shook her head. “No worries, Councilor, it was a joke. I’m not hitting on you.”

After a moment, she looked up from her empty cup. “I hope I’m not off balance in asking for this advice. I mean, I don’t imagine too many folks say ‘how am I supposed to act?’ when they come on board. Part of me is glad I asked, yet another part of me wonders if that’s just proof I’m not ready.” There wasn’t the defeated attitude in her words this time. It was more like she was seeking a reaffirmation that she wasn’t being given answers because she had no choice now but to fit in or fail.

Vadoma
Engineer

Sinclair smiled and said “Asking for advice and accepting help is one of the surest signs of maturity in almost all sentient species. So no, you are not off-balance or unprepared. And no, most people don’t ask that… although they should. It would save them a lot of time in getting settled in.” and he chuckled. “So what is the most exciting thing, for you, about being here?”

Sinclair, CNS