I just experienced one of the most traumatic moments of my career during a routine 1-on-1 meeting on a Monday morning. I walked in expecting a regular discussion, but instead, I was met with the shocking news of my layoff. My heart dropped, and I felt like my entire world collapsed in an instant. I had to sit there and nod along, fighting back tears, while the implications of this news sank in. I can't stop thinking about how my team is feeling—if they even still exist as a cohesive unit. The uncertainty is eating me alive. Did our new president decide to cut the entire program, or was I just the unlucky one they deemed unnecessary? I'm utterly shattered. My confidence is in tatters. While I can't say I was completely blindsided, given the turmoil in our department recently, I truly didn't expect to be let go so soon. Leadership had assured us we were safe for a while, so this feels like a cruel twist. It's infuriating to think that despite receiving positive performance reviews and contributing significantly to revenue, I was still cut. It feels like a personal attack, and it's hard not to fall into a victim mentality when you know you've done everything right. My generation is really struggling with this reality.