Preservice teachers get their first teaching position hoping to take the first step toward becoming professional educators and expecting support from experienced colleagues and administrators, who often serve as their mentors. In this article, the authors present the story of Kristine (a pseudonym), who works at a middle school in a large U.S. public school district. The authors hope her story and the lessons she learned help other novice teachers getting through their first years in the classroom. Among other things, the authors offer concrete survival tips beginning teachers can rely on to help achieve positive professional growth in their first year.