A trip to Belize would typically mean someone would have to pack sunscreen and a nice bathing suit. For Abbi Smith, the list is a little bit different: gauze, ointments and CPR mannequins.

Smith has been a resident of Federal Way for around a decade. She graduated from Highline College in 2014 with honors and was named to the Vice President’s list.

Her achievements at Highline earned her academic scholarships to Seattle University where she has just completed her first year in their nursing program. It was the only school she applied to after seeing how involved the school was in the community.

Seattle University offers Global Nursing immersion courses as part of their nursing program. The program allows them to work in the healthcare environment of another culture. Students also will be able to see some of the country’s historical sites.

Smith will be working with Belize’s Red Cross agency over a two-week period.

“It just sounds so cliche, but I do have a passion for helping,” Smith said. “I used to work at a Swedish ER. I see the people around me, the doctors I worked with and when I see the patients walk out with a smile on their face, that’s very gratifying to me.”

The trip almost didn’t happen for her. Applications for the trip were due in mid-December. She was the last person accepted into the course this year as there was a mistake on her transcript that made her ineligible. She was unable to apply by the deadline because of the mistake.

“We had a glitch on my transcript and they didn’t realize that I had this particular credit,” Smith said. “I fought for it. I knew I was qualified for it, but the deadline had already closed. I didn’t think it was my fault that I didn’t get accepted.”

“She hadn’t applied because she received some advising that said she wasn’t eligible, but that wasn’t true,” college of nursing senior instructor Jennifer Fricas said. “So when that came to our attention, we were like ‘OK, go ahead and apply and let’s see.’”

During the following months, Smith was accepted into the course despite missing the deadline.

One of the things the program asked the students to do was to bring in donated supplies that they could use in Belize. She asked multiple fire departments and health agencies, but only South King Fire and Rescue was able to help with her request.

“We’re super excited to spread care and aid work everywhere,” South King Fire and Rescue Capt. Jeff Bellinghausen said. “We’re already involved with a lot of fire departments and healthcare in Baja, Mexico and to be able to go to Belize is even more fun. We have equipment that we’re not using and if other people in places around the world can make use of it, we are glad to find a conduit to get it to them, that’s for sure.”

South King Fire and Rescue donated mannequins, shields for the mannequins, ointments, gauze and other things to the group for their trip. The Firefighters Foundation, the charitable branch of the fire department, bought items for them as well.

Though they have received donations for health organizations before, Fricas believes that South King Fire and Rescue may be the first fire department to donate to the trip.

Seattle University’s nursing program has had a presence in Belize since 2000. Recently, they started another course that sends students to Nicaragua during the summer. The university has been sending members of other departments there since the 1990s. Fricas has been a part of the program since 2008 and is currently the co-director.

“Even though it is a once a year thing, because the students are preparing well in advance, they can really hit the ground running when they come for these two work weeks,” Fricas said. “They’re given a fair amount of responsibility. The people we work with know what they can accomplish.”

Fricas believes that the program is beneficial to students for multiple reasons. Having the students immersed in another culture and in a low resource environment allows them to see different ways to address issues, which can broaden their thinking back in the states.

They have received positive feedback throughout the years for students’ work.

“I think it’s a great experience to be immersed in that particular culture and that environment,” Smith said. “My hope is that after this experience, it will lead me to where I want to be after I graduate, [whether] I want to do public health or work in a hospital.”

In an email, Smith stated that she also hopes to learn more about herself through the trip. She admits to being nervous, but believes that her professors, Fricas and Lori Cray, have prepared her well for the trip.

“Being a single mother, volunteering and going to school is tough,” Smith said in an email. “This would not be all possible if it wasn’t for the love and support from my Nanay (Tagalog for mom), dad, Kuya, Missa, friends, church and especially my daughter. She has been my inspiration through my endeavor of becoming a nurse.”

Smith was one of nine students selected to go on the trip. They left for Belize on Aug. 19 and will spend a total of 16 days in the country.