I was let go from my job last week, and I'm feeling pretty defeated. I'm a 31-year-old woman with a bachelor's degree, and I've been working in higher education since I graduated at 24. Over the years, I've held three jobs, with my most recent one being the longest at just over two years. I genuinely enjoyed this last position; the company culture, benefits, and my interactions with students made me happy, despite the stress. However, I had a tough semester last year that led me to take three months of FMLA leave in the spring. When I returned last month, I was fired due to performance issues. My former boss had concerns about my pace, which contributed to my declining metrics. I only worked at full capacity for the last two weeks before my termination, as the first two weeks were an adjustment period. Currently, I'm living back with my mom, which I've been doing for almost four years to save for a house after selling my condo. I have around $20k saved up from that sale, and my car is paid off. My credit score is decent, ranging from the mid to high 700s. While I could potentially move out or buy a small condo, I don’t want to settle; I’m aiming for a home that meets all my criteria. Now, as I navigate unemployment, I've applied for unemployment benefits and SNAP. I can't help but compare myself to others my age who seem to have their lives more together—settled down with partners, stable jobs, and homes. I don’t want kids and I'm unsure about my attraction to men, which adds to my feelings of defeat. Given the current job market, I worry I might be unemployed for a while or end up in a role that doesn't align with my aspirations like my last job did.