Laugh loudly, feel deeply, dream fearlessly – the inspiring journey of Letizia Maria Gebbia
What would you say to your younger self at the end of a life-changing journey? With graduation just around the corner, we asked some of our amazing Master’s students to write a letter to the person they were when they first arrived at HEC Paris - full of hope, questions, and the quiet courage to chase something bigger.
Letizia Maria Gebbia, a Master in Marketing student, takes us on a deeply personal reflection, looking back on the friendships, challenges, growth, and grace that defined her year in Jouy-en-Josas. Her letter is a tribute to the power of becoming, of embracing vulnerability, and of learning to lead with both ambition and heart.
Dear younger Leti,
Now that we are finally about to graduate with our Master’s, it feels almost surreal to just reflect and realize how many things we have accomplished this year: the joy we experienced, the hard work we endured, and the overwhelming pride we hold in our heart.
We arrived at HEC Paris as a girl, full of hope, but also carrying the weight of expectations. Would we find our place? Would we belong? Would this become our “happy place”? As we prepare to leave, with a mix of sorrow and excitement, we are no longer that same person who opened the door in building A with uncertain hands: we now go into the world as a woman, one who learned to dream bigger and carries a case full of lessons, friendships, and fearless wishes. We may still have questions about our future and what it will hold, but we embrace the beauty of the unknown with open arms, knowing that meaningful experiences are always around the corner for those who dare to look for them.
Here in Jouy-en-Josas, we didn’t just learn how to be good students. We understood how to be gentle leaders, kind change-makers, and critical thinkers; we allowed ourselves to be vulnerable, make mistakes, and grow with both ambition and grace. We met incredible people and friends who touched our hearts deeply; between our late-night conversations, 3am cake baking sessions and city explorations we shared our dreams and opened our hearts, knowing that those moments will last forever and become some of our fondest memories, now and for life.
We have daydreamed and made plans about the future, and now that the future is finally here, a new horizon stretching in front of our steps. As we move forward with a deep sense of purpose, we know we will chase our dreams not in a mere rush for the destination but trusting that the journey itself will be as worthwhile.
Leti, promise me you’ll never forget it. Vow to always laugh loudly, feel intensely, and smile shamelessly, surrounded by true friends who will be happy to share those moments with you. Here’s to a road of endless possibilities ahead, and the pride I feel, by telling you all of this today.
With love,
Leti
Letizia’s words capture the emotional journey that many HEC Paris students experience - the transformation from doubt to confidence, from questioning to becoming. In her letter, we see more than a student looking back - we see a young woman ready to carry her values forward, to chase dreams with soul, and to face the unknown with open arms.
This is more than a farewell to campus. It’s a promise to honor everything she has learned, and to keep growing with laughter, courage, and deep connection wherever life takes her next.