"Fascinating..." Callan let slip, as Josh speaks about his racing and how it impacts his battling style, and vice versa. Regardless, Callan smiles and nods in response. "Okay, thanks for answering that Josh. I have a pretty good idea of your approach to raising Pokemon." Callan lets the script finish compiling, satisfied with the answer that Josh gave. "Alright, Josh, one last part I'd like to go through with you." Callan turns his attention back towards the Mauville Gym Leader. "What kind of trainer should a Champion-Ranked trainer be?"

Josh Devlin

As Josh was getting into the groove of answering Callan's tough questions, he relaxed more, his hold on the Raikou plush in his lap becoming less firm. Perhaps it was just nerves finally dying down, but he was able to answer the latest question with great diction and confidence.

"Callan, a Champion should have three traits above all else. First of all, a Champion needs to be able to... well, champion, the ideals of the League of the region they are a Champion of. While they don't necessarily need to be at the complete whims of the Commissioner and Council, they do need to be in line with the will of the Council. They need to be willing to lay down everything to keep the region safe, more so than even a Gym Leader would. A Champion must have a sense of duty toward the region they are a Champion of."

He paused to let Callan type. "Second, a Champion should be a mentor to trainers of the region they are a Champion of, able to help improve the talents of trainers of all skill levels, but especially Gym Leaders. As a Gym Leader, and this is me speaking from personal experience, finding someone to reach out to for help with addressing deficiencies in my battle skills has been both challenging and humbling. Just as the Gym Leaders are responsible for making local trainers the best they can be, so should Champions strive to make Gym Leaders, and even the Elite Four and other Champions of the region, the best they can be."

Again, he paused to let Callan type. "Third, and perhaps most importantly, a Champion needs to have a contagious, positive attitude with motivation to not only improve the next generation of trainers and Gym Leaders, but also to continue improving themselves. This is something I've struggled with for years in climbing the ranks of both Johto's League and Hoenn's League. The Gym Leaders here, and that includes you, Callan, have helped me address that in a big way. And as a Champion, your greatest duty is to make the next generation of trainers feel like the League sees them as true, irreplaceable assets."

"Thank you for your answer Josh." Callan replies. The script that was being typed up was not by hand, but by a voice recorder that automatically transcribed text into the computer.

"I have one more question, and that will conclude the interview." His eyes observe Josh as he asks, "Do you believe that you currently possess all three traits?"

Josh Devlin

Josh replied affirmatively without hesitation. "First, when I signed the oath to become a Gym Leader, I swore unerring fealty to the League. I don't intend to back down now. My faith in the League and the Council is unerring, unwavering, and total. Now I'm not saying that they're perfect. No one is. There is not a single human being on the planet who can make that claim. But they are as reasonably close to perfect as can be."

Josh's fists clenched, letting go of his Raikou plush for the first time all interview. "As a Gym Leader, I already have ample experiencing mentoring trainers. And I learned, the hard way, that being a Gym Leader doesn't automatically make you a hotshot trainer. I went through that. And I feel that is an important quality to have as a Champion. Champions need to know what failure is like, so that they can learn from their own failures and try to prevent other Gym Leaders from failing in the same way."

The Mauville Leader's eyes looked like they were on fire with emotion. "As a Gym Leader, I used to think that the be-all and end-all of performance was the percentage of challengers who won your Badge. But it's not about crushing your challengers. It's about teaching them. Late last fall, I nearly lost my job over that. And you know who helped me get out of my funk? It was Melody Miro . It was Katherine Fairburne . It was Elinor Anderson . And most importantly, it was you, Callan Young ."

Callan may have been able to feel the metaphorical electricity in the air from how passionate Josh was getting. "Now I don't expect to pass the Elite Test on my first attempt. Maybe not even on my second. What's important, though, is learning from your defeats, figuring out why you lost, and doing something about it for next time. As long as you can continue to diagnose your own failures, there's no opponent you can't eventually defeat. kyle lopez , if you hear this, I want to challenge Entei in battle. Until I can take down Entei in battle without a Beast of my own, I will never consider myself a Champion." Tears flowed down his cheeks as he leaned back in his chair. "All I ask for is a chance to do so."

Callan listens as he provides his final answer to him. He nods, agreeing with his points, "It's a good answer Josh, some of them I agree with." Callan replies. He gently curls a hand into a fist as he stands up, stopping the recording for Josh as he stands up and offers a handshake. "Thank you for your interview Josh. I will be providing a written assessment for you in a week's time." Callan offers a small smile, and the interview is officially over.

ASSESSMENT

CANDIDATE: JOSH DEVLIN

Candidate Josh Devlin is a well-known quantity in the Pokemon League. A skilled trainer, a hard worker, determined and possessing an excellent moxie. Devlin is the hardest-working individual in the League and is praiseworthy for their determination and dedication. The candidate has been consistently the most active individual, not just based on gym challenges but also in interactions with others. They should be proud of their accomplishments and the effort they have put into preparing themselves for this challenge.

During the interview, Devlin's zeal and love for Pokemon were described in his assessment of his personal beliefs and how he trains his Pokemon. Devlin's skillset and knowledge borrow heavily from his past as a semi-professional racer, and his use of Speed as a strong point is partially out of love and desire for his racing. His philosophy of coordination and bonds is also exemplary. He uses his unique skills and abilities to improve the lives of his Pokemon. This philosophy is beneficial not only for their Pokemon but also for him - as they learn to become more confident and self-aware through their efforts. It is an exceptional quality that I seek in any potential Champion.

In addition, Devlin's understanding of what a Champion should ideally be is also of excellent quality. Devlin clearly understands what it means to be a Champion and why they need to pursue this role. One of their main goals is to benefit their Region by putting themselves in the line of duty. This quality is essential for anyone in this position as Hoenn can be a dangerous place. As such, a Champion needs to be willing to put themselves in the line of duty to protect their people.

Furthermore, Devlin displays the desire to improve themselves constantly - both physically and mentally. It is an essential mindset for anyone who wants to become a Champion. They must always look for ways to grow and develop their skills and be willing to do the necessary work to perfect them. The candidate must be self-motivated and determined - as they will have to face many obstacles and challenges along their journey to becoming a Champion.

The candidate has demonstrated a solid understanding of what it means to be a Champion. Their battling skill, philosophy, and dedication to their work and goals are all exceptional. Despite this, I will raise multiple concerns regarding Devlin, which are worth mentioning.

First, It became apparent from the outset that Devlin has extreme emotional lability.

During the interview, I asked questions I would ask of any other trainer candidate and structured myself in a manner by which I assess an individual's motivations, character, training skills, and mindset. Devlin became emotional in situations that were not appropriate or helpful—emotions which led him to appear insecure and unhelpful. Emotional instability is not suitable for a person in a position of high prestige, as they can be a public figure who represents the best that the League has to offer and are figureheads for other trainers to aspire to.

Second, the candidate appears to have a habit of jumping to conclusions. I note several examples in the interview. For example, my questions regarding his motivation to end Team Rocket as a motivation for becoming a champion were met with accusatory statements about my interview methodology being loaded. Another was when Devlin believed that there is "no tougher test of skill with Pokemon in the entire world than Hoenn's Champion Assessment", I am not entirely sure this is accurate, given the infancy of the new structure. And finally, his disposition towards members of Team Rocket is disquieting for me.

More importantly, I received the impression that any individual he deems as 'evil' is to be destroyed or burned to the ground without regard for due process or consideration of alternative opinions that may offer good, critical perspectives on the functions of the League. His views towards Team Rocket indicate traits of a distorted morality that make them prone to irrational and unstable behavior, which can be detrimental to their relationships and well-being and lead to other negative consequences.

From what Devlin has demonstrated, he often jumps to conclusions. Such demonstrations are significant, as it is not an appropriate behavior that a Champion should have. It is inappropriate because a person in a position of high prestige and potential leadership should always seek to gather all the necessary knowledge before making a decision. Making hasty conclusions can lead to poor decisions and missing essential information, ultimately leading to negative consequences.

And third, Josh demonstrated in the course of his interview that his emotional distress from interview questions entitled him to compel the interviewer to 'move on' with the queries. When asked about his discomfort, Devlin's response appeared to be due to an intense emotional reaction based on former experiences in his life. Such reactions included being near tears to questions that any other candidate would have answered without issue. It is a pattern of behavior that can lead to an expectation that the world should cater to their needs rather than learning how to handle difficult emotions or situations on their own. This behavior is inappropriate for a position of high prestige, who must handle difficult situations and feelings without relying on others to act on their needs.

All in all, I believe that while Devlin possesses excellent skills both in battling and in raising Pokemon and that he has the correct understanding of what it means to be a champion, there are several aspects of himself that he must work on before I can confidently pass him into the challenge for the Elite Four. He must work on his emotional outbursts, conclusion-jumping and reactivity, and predisposition to personal entitlement. These traits indicate instability and lack of leadership, which I cannot safely agree to allow as a Champion-ranked trainer.

Some suggestions I would recommend to Devlin are the following:

1.) Become aware of how your emotional sensitivity affects others' perceptions of you, particularly in how it can cause adverse reactions that work against you. Become aware of personal triggers, and when someone inadvertently or intentionally aims towards them, develop habits you can maintain yourself, especially in high-stress environments such as interviews, where an interviewer actively assesses every aspect of your personality according to their criteria.

2.) Become more conscious of your thoughts, and try to edit and question any views that might become immediate conclusions. Not everything needs to have a judgment or quick answer. Aim to possess information on all factors that make your statements true and question whether you have evidence to the contrary.

3.) I suggest looking up traits of what it means to be a leader. A trainer's social and mental strength as a Champion is essential, as you must lead from the front and provide a strong example for your team and everyone who looks up to you. If you cannot handle a difficult situation with grace and calm, your team may become discouraged and uninspired.

Josh Devlin does not pass my Champion Interview. However, I encourage him to seek others or to retry when he feels he is ready again.

Josh Devlin