Closing a Chapter: My Time at Integra LifeSciences

My time at Integra LifeSciences came to an end due to COVID-related cutbacks, and at first, I struggled with it—I questioned whether I could have done more. But looking back, I realize it was simply the reality of the situation.

Due to COVID shutdowns, most of my time at Integra was spent in isolation, working remotely. I didn’t really get a chance to develop relationships with coworkers or have my value seen outside of specific tasks. There wasn’t much opportunity for growth, which made the transition out of the role even more abrupt.

Since I was still living at home with my family, my bills were low, which allowed me to save a significant amount of money. That financial cushion gave me the chance to shift my focus toward creative work. Instead of scrambling for another job immediately, I saw this as an opportunity to invest more time into my projects, freelancing, and storytelling.

It wasn’t the transition I had planned, but it became a pivotal moment in shaping the next phase of my journey. With the time and resources I had, I was able to fully commit to my creative ambitions, refining my skills and laying the groundwork for the future I wanted to build.