On a hot summer night on a coastal farm north of Barcelona, I joined hands with my incredible students as we danced in a circle, swirling and swaying together. The final notes of a flamenco duet drifted into the breeze, mixing with laughter and cries of “¡Arsa!” as my students kept rhythm with their palmas. Just over a month ago, these same chavales were nervously boarding a plane at JFK, unsure of what lay ahead. Now, they were confidently immersed in the moment, exhibiting pride in their growth as well as a newfound, remarkable self-assurance. I took a deep breath, overcome with emotion at the thought of saying goodbye in just a few days. As the stars hung over the fields of the masía, I looked around the community that we had built together on the values and essence of LITA: growth, connection, acceptance, and joy!
That evening had followed a long, hot day of hiking while learning about the ecology of the Catalonian countryside. Any other group of teenagers might have collapsed into silence at the end of such a day, but not these students. Instead, they recognized how special every moment of the trip truly is, and threw themselves into the rest of the evening with unwavering enthusiasm and energy. Unlike a classroom setting, there are no awards for “most improved” or “best grammar.” Thus, each student derives an intrinsic and personal motivation to buy in and improve; Students push themselves not because someone’s keeping score, but because the LITA environment helps them see their own worth and potential. I never had to scold them, or felt like they were taking the experience for granted. On the contrary, they wanted to participate, to grow, to support their peers. In a culture that can so often reward detachment or “playing it cool,” LITA is a place where genuine enthusiasm is celebrated—and that makes all the difference.
Before LITA, I did another language immersion program where speaking Spanish was seen as “trying too hard.” I remember feeling isolated, as though my seriousness about learning somehow made me stick out. It was frustrating to feel like my love for the language made me uncool. But on LITA trips, that attitude simply doesn’t exist. From day one, students understand that vulnerability is the price of growth, and everyone is in it together. No one is trying to one-up or judge; instead, they lift each other up. Whether it’s celebrating someone sustaining a spontaneous conversation at the market, or laughing together after a funny language mix-up, every moment and triumph is shared. It’s this collective effort and mutual respect that makes the LITA environment so uniquely powerful and so unlike anything I’ve experienced elsewhere.
This summer, I didn’t just watch my students grow—I grew right alongside them. As a group leader, I found myself navigating challenges I hadn’t faced before: supporting students through homesickness, making split-second decisions in unfamiliar places, and constantly adapting to the emotional needs of the group. At times, I doubted myself. Was I being clear enough in my Spanish? Was I offering enough support without hovering? How could I handle all of the choques culturales as a Spanish student myself? But just like my students, I found comfort in the strength of our group. Their openness inspired mine, and their courage pushed me to continue to trust myself as I took new risks and left my comfort zone each day. I arrived thinking I would exclusively guide them—but in so many ways, they guided me too. And so, upon leaving JFK and returning home, I found overwhelming pride for not only my students but also myself.
The constant exploration of LITA is by no means easy, and we all hit our fair share of walls throughout the five weeks together. But not even in the lowest moment or the most anxious times did we ever question if what we were doing was worth the discomfort it required. To be a part of LITA is to enter into a community that picks up your slack when needed, and celebrates your active choice to keep climbing, growing, and learning every single day. With the support of this community, I, like all my students, left Spain with a more open heart, confidence in my communication, and gratitude for all the ways that LITA is truly one of one.
Tess, Group Leader 2025
