Abbi Slinginger '20: Returning to Roatan

Today we are profiling alum Abbi Slininger as part of our Five Under Twenty-Five series. Slininger attended Minnehaha Academy from 2009-2020 and is currently studying for her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Minnesota.

 

Spot on the Map | During my undergraduate years at Luther College I traveled to Roatan, Honduras, as a health clinic volunteer, and visited multiple places in Japan for a religion class. 

 

MA Connection | Roatan was especially meaningful to me, as I had previously traveled to the island and volunteered at a local children’s home on the island during CFE with Mrs. Cripe. 

This time, I was volunteering at Clínica Esperanza, a non-profit medical clinic. I helped in the triage room, worked with a chiropractor, a gynecologist, and in the pharmacy. The coolest parts were being able to perform a Pap smear, announce the gender to an expecting mother, and get SCUBA certified. I recently traveled to Roatan for the third time over spring break in March of 2024 with a good friend and my parents. This time I didn't volunteer, I just enjoyed the island. 

 

Filling a Gap | The most impactful part of this experience was being able to use my Spanish skills to communicate with the patients and assist American nurses and the chiropractor, who didn’t speak Spanish. 

Diving Deeper | In order to better understand Buddhist practice and culture while in Japan for a religion class, we lived in the mountains alongside Buddhist monks with no heat or technology and only ate the vegetarian food prepared by the monks. We also spent time traveling the country visiting various important sites within the Buddhist religion.

 

In addition to religious sites, we also visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These visits became some of the most emotional days on this trip. 

Fun Fact | I'm SCUBA certified and was able to make use of that skill on the island. Also, I adopted two kittens last year! I have been a vegetarian my whole life, and I am running my first half marathon on October 12th. 

 

Next Steps | My travel experiences and the past four years at Luther College have expanded my knowledge, shaped who I am, and sparked even more curiosity. I am excited to be back home in Minneapolis starting a new chapter at the University of Minnesota. I'll be studying there for my Doctorate of Physical Therapy.