Our School

When Loren Tuck ’22 first arrived in Barcelona for a semester abroad through the IES Abroad program, she was chasing a dream she'd had since her time at Holy Cross High School which combined her love for language, culture, and science. Now entering her senior year at Providence College, majoring in Neuroscience, Loren sees her time in Spain as both transformative and foundational to her future.

“I’ve always wanted to go abroad,” she says. “Providence made it really easy, and once I got there, I focused a lot on psychology courses, which gave me a different perspective from my neuroscience work back home.”

Language immersion was a central goal. “Learning Spanish was a big reason I went. I wanted to improve, and living there definitely helped,” she shares. “Especially since I’m entering the medical field, being bilingual is such a valuable skill.”

That goal became more meaningful as Loren began considering her future path. She plans to apply to Physician Assistant (PA) school and will begin accumulating clinical hours at DaVita, a dialysis clinic where her mother works.  

However, Barcelona left a lasting mark. “I’ve felt this pull to go back and teach English there,” she says. “It’s a beautiful city. I loved it so much.”

Of course, living abroad came with its challenges. “It was definitely an adjustment—just basic things like the time they eat dinner or how late everything starts,” Loren said. “And the language barrier, especially during the first two months, was hard, but I got used to it.”

Academically, the experience was eye-opening. “The workload was different. In some ways, it was more challenging because they’re very focused on what they want you to learn. It pushed me in a good way.”

Loren’s passion for the medical field began at Holy Cross High School in Mr. Erik Lanese’s neuroscience class and (former faculty member) Mr. Jeff Castaldi’s biology classes. “Those classes sparked something in me,” she says. “It’s why I chose my major and why I’m on this path today.”

As she looks ahead to a future in healthcare and possibly another chapter in Barcelona, Loren knows her time abroad gave her more than academic credit. “It taught me how to adapt, how to communicate across cultures, and how to step outside of what’s comfortable. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”