Pink Slip Blues

It's been 2 weeks since I came home to 2 pink slips waiting for me in the mailbox. As a new teacher, you always hear about these things but in your mind-you never really think that you'll be one of the "lucky" or "unlucky" (however you choose to looks at it) ones to receive one. Being in science, all four years of my pricey college education, my professors would repeatedly tell me that I will never have any trouble finding and retaining a job. In the face of the hard economic times-I understand the necessity of this move but my heart and my subconscious can't accept it. I know that I didn't get one due to my performance but either way, it still hurts. As a newly minted teacher-I can see that I am making a difference in my students' lives but with one pink slip, I began to doubt myself. If I was doing such a great job-what did I do to deserve a pink slip when I can see that others around me are not working to their full potential but because they have seniority-they are protected from this dreaded letter? All the free time I've dedicated to my students after school seems to mean nothing to the school district. I have given 110% but all I got for it was a pink slip. I love teaching but the pink slip really feels like a slap in the face. This experience has gotten me wondering whether teaching is really where I can put my talents to full use....