Today was a devastating experience for me. I started an adjunct teaching role at a local college, a position I had accepted back in May. I was excited to begin this new chapter, especially after a brutal job hunt that left me feeling hopeless. I had been in communication with the dean about my role, which was supposed to lead to a full-time lecturer position after the current professor retired this Spring. However, upon arriving for my first day, I was met with confusion and disbelief from the department staff. They had no idea I was hired, and it turned out that the dean had left the college abruptly, giving only a two-day warning. Because of this, the division chair informed me that all courses had already been assigned, and I would have no work this semester. The chair was defensive, repeatedly stating that she had no information about my hiring. I felt my stomach drop as I realized that my hopes for this semester were dashed. After years of hard work earning my PhD and striving to be respected in my field, I now feel completely useless and undervalued. I had to explain to my friends and family that my first day was not what I had hoped for, and I’m left uncertain about my future prospects, including the full-time role I was looking forward to applying for next Spring.