Occupational Therapy News OTnews February 2019_Joomag | Page 44

FEATURE STUDENT EDUCATION
Embracing
each opportunity
Hannah Barker shares her reflections
on taking up an opportunity to learn
about and practice occupational
therapy in Sweden as a Cardiff
University student, through the
Erasmus programme
W
hen an opportunity presents itself,
what is your automatic response? Do
you say yes straight away, or do you
think, reflect and then accept?
If you are anything like me your instant reaction
may be to say no. You have created a list in your
mind of all the good and bad outcomes of this
decision, but are more inclined to the negative.
Last October, as a Cardiff University student,
I said yes to an opportunity to learn about and
practice occupational therapy in Sweden, through
the Erasmus programme – a European Union-funded
programme that organises student exchanges,
designed to enable students to gain valuable
international experience, either by studying part of a
degree abroad, or undertaking a work placement.
As clichéd as it sounds, embracing this
opportunity took me on an exhilarating journey of
self-discovery. Pursuing my own meaningful interest
of culture provided a deeper sense of professional
identity. I discovered first-hand the pure joy that
is offered to us when we intentionally choose to
participate in activities that align with our core values.
It all started in Gothenburg, the second-largest
city on the west coast of Sweden, with eight weeks
working in a hospital setting on an acute stroke ward
as a second-year student.
An enhanced awareness was gained of how
activities such as gardening, crafts and games can
provide a powerful tool to build relationship with
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