I was laid off from my role as an Associate Software Developer after two years at the company. I joined at 24 and really poured my heart into my work, often staying late and earning a recognition award in my first year. However, things took a turn in my second year. My responsibilities expanded significantly without any formal acknowledgment or change in my title. I found myself juggling the duties of a developer, tester, manager, and support engineer, all while still being labeled an associate. My team lead was ineffective, often agreeing to unreasonable demands, and I struggled with the lack of support and clarity. One day, during a call with higher-ups, they bluntly stated that they expected me to work 16 hours a day, which I refused. The next day, I was laid off, with 'performance' cited as the reason. I felt a sense of relief but was deeply unsettled by how the exit was handled. I was given only 10 minutes to leave and was escorted out without being able to say goodbye to my teammates. After two years of hard work, it felt incredibly disheartening to be treated that way.