In this blog post, Gaëlle – Blogger of the SPOT Board – reflects on her inspiring journey as a board member at SPOT. She looks back with gratitude and pride on a period filled with growth, learning, and meaningful connections.
Meanwhile, Dorothea shares her own experiences as a MiniSPOT member and part of the support team. She will soon take over the role of Blogger, continuing to share the voices and stories within our SPOT community.
We hope their reflections will inspire you to become part of the SPOT network and experience for yourself the power of collaboration, connection, and growth within our international occupational therapy community.
Experiences of a SPOT board member
As my term as a SPOT board member is coming to an end, I’ve been taking some time to reflect on this incredibly inspiring and enriching journey. What started as a leap into something new ended up becoming one of the most valuable experiences of my student life.
A Journey of Growth and Discovery
Joining SPOT has given me so much more than I could have expected. It’s not just a student organization – it’s a community where you truly get to grow, both personally and professionally.
As a student in occupational therapy, being part of an international team allowed me to see our profession through so many different lenses. Working with students from various countries opened my mind to new perspectives, new cultural influences, and new ways of understanding what occupational therapy can mean.
Through this, I developed skills that go far beyond textbooks – communication, teamwork, leadership, and cultural awareness. These experiences have made me more confident and better prepared for my future as an occupational therapist.
Connecting Across Borders
Another highlight of being a SPOT board member was the opportunity to attend international occupational therapy congresses.
These events were eye-opening – not only because of the knowledge shared, but because of the incredible people I met. Exchanging ideas with students and professionals from all over the world reminded me why I love this field so much.
Beyond the academic and professional growth, SPOT gave me something even more valuable: friendships. Genuine connections with people who share the same passion and drive, who continue to inspire me long after the meetings and conferences are over.
Why You Should Take the Leap
If you’re even slightly considering applying to become a SPOT board member, let me tell you this: do it.
It’s an experience that will challenge you, empower you, and open your eyes to the world of occupational therapy in a way that few other opportunities can.
You’ll grow, you’ll learn, and you’ll become part of a network of motivated, curious, and compassionate students who are shaping the future of our profession.
So take the chance, step out of your comfort zone, and join SPOT. You won’t regret it – I promise
Experiences of a Support team member
A little storytime
So in October 2024 Katerina, the outreach coordinator of SPOTeurope, contacted one of our professors in University of West Attica and suggested we establish our own mini SPOT. And that’s when everything started for me…
Being part of a Mini SPOT
Mini SPOT UNIWA was officially established in December of 2024, and since then, I have the honor of being a board member – the vice president. This whole process has been truly special, as we managed to organise in the best way possible a really big community of people that are eager to give time and energy on our mission to promote Occupational Therapy and give students their own voice regarding OT education, practice and the future. As I am thinking back, I realise that all these times, when we were trying to communicate with each other or manage our time and plan things, when we paused our urgent meetings to chitchat, when we panicked but in the end everything somehow worked out, we were coming closer to our “big” self. This, almost, year has shaped me in ways I could never have imagined and has taught me numerous things, such as patience, resilience, problem solving and team work. I have also been given the chance to be part of and provide a safe space for not only academic but also personal growth.
The Support Team
As I got closer to the SPOT community I came across a recruitment post for Support Team members and I thought “I can do this!”. I was so enthusiastic and motivated at first, but then I became anxious on how everything works and what I could possibly offer. All my doubts were cleared as the SPOT board team has done a great job and we (the new Support Team members) were provided with well defined instructions on what our duties were.The thing that I didn’t know I needed but actually had the greatest impact was the true freedom and space to suggest and experiment with new ideas. Being a Suppoort Team member showed me that creativity is not a linear process and brainstorming combined with team discussions, input and feedback can lead to excellent results, even if they at first seem inoperable.
Next steps
A new chapter is starting, and I couldn’t be more proud (and stressed)! Blogging for SPOTeurope is something that a year ago would feel impossible. BUT being part of this community has shown me that quite a lot of things are possible and it’s beautiful when a vision becomes a plan and then reality and there are people you get to celebrate each step of the way with.