Proctor en Segovia: What Nine Weeks in Spain Taught Me

As Proctor en Segovia students bid farewell to their Spanish home and returned home at the end of the spring term, the impact of their linguistic and cultural immersion experience came into sharp focus. Living with host families, navigating daily life in Spanish, and forming deep connections with Segovians transformed these students in ways they never anticipated. In their final assignment for the term, students were asked to write letters to their pre-departure selves, sharing wisdom gained from nine weeks in Spain. The vulnerability and growth evident in these reflections speak to the life-changing power of stepping outside one's comfort zone, embracing every opportunity and living in the present, and the perspective that can only come from a term living abroad. Read the heartfelt letters from Jelena '25 and Olivia '25 below!

Jelena '25: Dear Me, The Best is Waiting Beyond the Doubt

Senior Spring, college decisions, the ache of missing people you weren't ready to let go of, thinking about the future without letting it steal the joy of the present. A million questions wandered through your head, but every doubt disappeared the moment you stepped foot on these ancient grounds, where Spain erased your uncertainty and gave you peace in return. The weight lifted off your shoulders instantly. Spain didn't just welcome you, it filled the silence with new sounds, new faces, and reminded you that growth often begins the moment you let go. Because you let yourself dive in and not look back, now, you are richer. Richer with a family you are so blessed to be a part of, richer in friendships with people you knew from school, which now you can call friends, and richer in memories you created with all the people you met in Spain for which you know you want to come back. Richer in moments with them filled with laughter, and in the deeper smile lines that now trace the story of a spring you will never forget.

You never expected to feel like home here, yet somehow, you are asking how much the houses cost. You had no idea that all those questions and what-ifs would be for nothing. You were hungry for answers and Spain fed you. It fed your eyes with its beauty, your mind with the richness of its culture and energy people here have. It fed your soul with every Spanish word you learned, and it definitely fed you with the delicious food you were so excited to try.

Not knowing what is out here is the only one of those questions that would haunt you if you decided to stay. Now, knowing the answer, you know that life is about being present, enjoying every second of every day, and truly embracing the unfamiliar. The stories, so many little significant moments, and jokes you share with your group that you carry now are greater than any fear that once held you back. It's the moments you lived through and everything you shared with the people you spent your time with here that matters. Spain taught you that life is not only about answers and destinations, it is about experiences along the way, the people you meet or get to learn more about, and the way you grow with every new experience. 

Olivia '25

Dear pre-Segovia me,

You are probably nervously excited, like the kind of nervous excitement where you could throw up but also are bouncing off walls to fly overseas for the first time and, even more importantly, leave the United States for the first time in your life. You are wondering: Will I make Spanish friends? Do Segovians like foreign people? Will I fit in? 

Let me tell you just one thing:

You will encounter some of the kindest, most welcoming people of your life.

You'll come to see how Spanish people are genuinely warm humans and have a natural way of making you feel cared for (besides the one Spanish girl you meet in the backpack store when you go in to ask, "Tienes cuadernos?" and she just looks at you and laughs in your face because clearly you should've known that they ONLY sold mochilas 😐 (backpacks) in the Decathlon store.

I am not just talking about Maruja, from your host family, who, by the way, reminds you so much of our Nana Barb in the way she whispers to herself her next action, or is always singing in Spanish, or the way she takes care of you. I am also talking about Margarita, the jewelry store shopkeeper who remembers your face and name and waves to you when you walk by, or Maria from the bus, asking how your day was every other afternoon on your way home from school and her way home from work. Also, watching young people or even older people give up their seat on the bus for someone even older than them is heartwarming. Spanish people have respect for each other and truly take care of one another, and that is the way they have made you feel during your time here.

My pieces of advice to you are:

1. Have a positive attitude and an open mind. 
2. New and enriching experiences can be daunting, but they often lead to the most meaningful growth and unforgettable memories. 
3. It is healthy to push yourself to try new things and be comfortable with the uncomfortable because that's where we can grow most as people. 
4. Proctor students, including YOU, are incredibly fortunate to have access to off-campus programs. Living abroad as a teenager is a rare opportunity to expand your horizons and make new friends—you might as well take advantage of it!
5. You'll come back changed, not just because of what you saw, but because of how you were treated — with kindness, patience, and warmth. 

Don't be afraid, okay? You're walking into a place full of good-hearted people, and they're about to welcome you with open arms.

Con ojos nuevos y un corazón lleno,

- Tú en Segovia