Ships & Modules

Minmatar ships are, in general, fast and good range control but with low tank/gank. The Beecher can get a good tank, however, you will likely have to cross train if you want pure gank/tank. Play to their strengths (range control) or fly another race. Gallentee usually have a lot of dps. Amarr can get some impressive brick tanks, and Laser's are pretty adaptable. Caldari usually get good application but jack of all trades for everything else.

Of course there are exceptions, like the slicer, and the breached etc. These are just rough guidelines.

Not intending to be trollish or otherwise rude, but as a new player how and why did you go about choosing to play Minmatar if you don't like the inherent characteristics of their ships?

Did the New Player Experience of the game when choosing a character not prepare you for the way Matari ships on average play?

1. train for t2 guns, barrage does make a difference if you are flying a td slasher.
2. drop t2 rep for AAR.
3. slashers are notoriously famous for their weak tank, especially control fit that you fly, (scram/web/td) so don't get surprised when you get primaried in the fleet.
4. choose your fights wisely, you can't win fights vs missile/drone hulls (well, you probably can but you will be mostly relying on your opponents making bad decisions). So in other words if you are fighting missile/drone ships get ready for a rough ride and loss of your ship in the end or an epic win against all odds.
5. experiment with fits, control TD slasher relies on it TD to win fights not it tank, there are also such things as Neut + ASB/scram/web, old 400mm plate TD variant (this one is mostly obsolete but imo still interesting), Neut + x2Web/AAR, Neut + dual tank ASB/AAR fit (gimmicky, but it can take some of your opponents by surprise).
6. if you completely dislike flying minmatar go gallente

also here is linky how to fly a slasher ('cause judging by your kb I do get a feeling you just pick your fights poorly)