1

You walk into lecture and realize you’ve prepared the wrong material.

2

A student challenges your authority in front of the entire class.

3

You catch someone plagiarizing—but they have a compelling excuse.

4

You’re asked to teach a course outside your expertise.

5

A student confides in you about something serious.

6

You’re asked to write a recommendation letter for someone you barely know.

7

You overhear students gossiping about you.

8

You get an anonymous complaint about your class.

9

You’re asked to serve on a committee you despise.

10

You’re pressured to publish something you don’t believe in.

11

You’re caught between two feuding faculty members.

12

You’re invited to a conference you can’t afford to attend.

13

You’re asked to cover for someone who’s constantly absent.

14

You’re told to revise your syllabus to meet new standards.

15

You’re asked to keep quiet about something unethical.

16

You forget an important meeting and scramble to recover.

17

A student asks you a deeply personal question.

18

You run into a student at the grocery store.

19

Someone invites you to lunch out of the blue.

20

You’re asked to give a guest lecture with no prep time.

21

You get invited to a student event you weren’t expecting.

22

You’re asked to mediate a conflict between students.

23

You’re approached by someone who wants to collaborate.

24

You’re asked to keep quiet about a student’s misconduct.

25

You find out someone is using your work without credit.

26

You’re pressured to pass a failing student.

27

You’re asked to write a glowing review for a terrible paper.

28

You learn a student is being harassed by someone.

29

You’re offered a bribe in exchange for a grade.

30

You’re asked to lie on a grant application.

31

You find out someone hacked into your email.

32

You’re asked to testify in an academic investigation.

33

You get rejected from a journal you admire.

34

You’re asked to peer-review a paper that contradicts your work.

35

You’re invited to speak at a controversial panel.

36

You’re asked to collaborate with someone you disagree with.

37

You sit in on someone else’s lecture.

38

You’re misquoted in a news article.

39

You’re invited to appear on a podcast.

40

You’re asked to defend your institution’s policies.

41

You’re asked to represent your field at a public event.

42

You’re accused of favoritism.

43

You’re invited to write an op-ed.

44

You’re asked to mentor someone publicly.

45

A student asks you for life advice.

46

You’re asked to intervene in someone's personal crisis.

47

You’re asked to support a student’s controversial project.

48

You’re invited to a farewell party you didn’t expect.

49

You notice a student is clearly disengaged and wonder why.

50

You’re asked to make your class “more fun” by administration.

51

You’re invited to a faculty mixer and don’t know anyone there.

52

You find yourself in a heated debate at a department meeting.

53

You’re invited to join a research group with clashing personalities.

54

You’re told your course is under review.

55

You get a call from someone you haven’t spoken to in years.

56

You receive unexpected news that throws off your day.

57

You’re asked to reflect on your work-life balance.

58

You run into an old flame on campus.

59

You’re asked to give advice you don’t feel qualified to offer.

60

You’re told your grant proposal was rejected—again.

61

You realize your research partner is cutting corners.

62

You’re invited to a panel that’s outside your comfort zone.

63

You’re pressured to publish something controversial.

64

You’re asked to co-author with someone you barely know.

65

You’re invited to judge a student competition.

66

You’re asked to moderate a debate between rival groups.

67

You’re asked to host a visiting scholar.

68

You’re invited to a student art show.

69

You’re asked to represent your department at a town hall.

70

You’re asked to chaperone a student trip.

71

You’re offered a large donation with strings attached.

72

You’re pressured to endorse a policy you disagree with.

73

You find out your research is being used for military purposes.

74

You receive an anonymous email with a cryptic message.

75

You find a strange object in your office mailbox.

76

You’re asked to testify in a legal case involving your research.

77

You’re contacted by someone claiming to be your long-lost sibling.

78

You’re asked to appear in a documentary about eccentric professors.

79

You’re asked to teach a class in costume for a themed week.

80

You’re asked to participate in a faculty roast.

81

You apply for a grant to fund a risky new research idea.

82

You write an op-ed challenging a dominant theory in your field.

83

You sign up for a dance class to reconnect with your body.

84

You begin writing a memoir about your academic journey.

85

You start waking up early to walk through campus before sunrise.

86

You decide to stop drinking coffee and see what happens.

87

You host a themed dinner party for your colleagues.

88

You begin collecting something that you've always wanted, but never got around to.

89

You start a side hustle.

90

You create a scholarship fund for underrepresented students.

91

You launch a campus-wide anti-burnout initiative.

92

You propose a new code of ethics for your department.

93

You pitch a new interdisciplinary program to the dean.

94

You teach a course entirely outdoors.

95

You publish a paper that contradicts your earlier work.

96

You’re asked to attend a family reunion you’ve been avoiding.

97

You’re asked to host a family member who doesn’t respect your work.

98

You realize a student reminds you of someone you lost.

99

You realize a student has developed a crush on you.

100

You’re asked to help a student who’s clearly in emotional distress.