Today’s junior faculty navigate the complex demands of teaching, research, service, and institutional expectations—all while striving to stay grounded in their values and well-being. Balancing research, teaching, service, and institutional engagement often comes with unspoken pressures—especially at a time of increased public scrutiny and shifting societal expectations around higher education. This panel offers an open conversation on sustaining mental health, forming a professional identity, and managing challenges such as course evaluations, classroom dynamics, and implicit expectations. Designed to provide encouragement and practical strategies, the discussion supports early-career scholars seeking both success and sustainability in an evolving academic landscape.