The Miracle of Believing in Our Youth



Hello valued friends, partners, and colleagues,

Summer is one of the most meaningful times of the year for me because it brings together so many of the things closest to my heart: mentorship, internships, education, graduations, and the opportunity to invest and pour my heart into the next generation.

Through the GTSE Internship Program and our Elevate Masterclasses, I had the privilege of working with two remarkable cohorts this summer: NAF students from Puerto Rico who completed the program entirely in Spanish, and students from the University of Florida, New York University, and University of Central Florida.

Every time I work with young people, I am reminded that mentorship is never a one way experience. We may believe we are there to teach them, but if we are willing to listen, we quickly discover how much they can teach us.

They are innovative, inquisitive, compassionate, and unafraid to see the world differently. I often say that Gen Z could also be called “Generation Why.”

They do not simply want to know what they are being asked to do. They want to understand why it matters. Not because they are challenging us, but because they want to understand the purpose, think more deeply, and find an even better way to deliver the result.

They are also deeply conscious of humanity and our planet. Even as they recognize AI’s extraordinary potential, they thoughtfully question its environmental impact. They remind us that progress should never come at the expense of people or the world we share.

This year, I also had the tremendous honor of serving as the keynote speaker for the Class of 2026 at The Academy of Medical Technology in Far Rockaway, New York. Having students approach me afterward and share that my story had impacted them is something I will always hold close to my heart.

At the end of the day, this is what drives me.

My mentor taught me the importance of paying it forward. When my journey on this earth is complete, I do not want to be remembered only for the company I built, the titles I held, or the accomplishments I achieved. I want to be remembered for the lives I touched, the people I inspired, and the hope I helped someone find.

I will never forget the first keynote speech I delivered. Afterward, a student emailed me and wrote:

“Luisa, your story touched my life in ways you may never understand.”

He shared that he had been considering ending his life. But after hearing my story, he realized that his obstacles were not there to destroy him. They could become the beginning of his transformation.

That message changed my life, too. It showed me that we may never fully understand how one story or a few words of encouragement can become a light for someone fighting a battle we cannot see.

An obstacle is not the end of our story. Sometimes, it is simply a miracle in the making, because we cannot experience a miracle without first facing an obstacle.

That same belief is why I was so inspired at SYTA as I learned more about the SYTA Youth Foundation and its commitment to helping students experience the transformational gift of travel.

A student can spend years learning inside a classroom, but there is no classroom quite like the world. Travel opens our eyes to different cultures, expands what we believe is possible, and awakens dreams we may not have known existed.

To every student who joined our GTSE Internship Program, completed the Elevate Masterclasses, attended my keynote, or will be impacted through the work of SYTA and its partners: thank you for allowing me to pour into you and for inspiring me in return.

As the mother of a Gen Z daughter, I’m especially grateful for the valuable lessons she has taught me, from seeing compassion through a different lens to reminding me that I can take off my heels because comfort is just as beautiful when you walk with confidence. After all, it’s not the shoes that matter, it’s the way you walk in them.

To this brilliant, caring, and courageous generation: I believe in you. I am inspired by you. I am committed to helping you recognize the greatness already living within you.

Perhaps the greatest miracle of working with our youth is realizing that while we are preparing them to lead the future, they are already teaching us how to create a better one.

What could change if we stopped seeing young people only as the leaders of tomorrow and began listening to the wisdom they are bringing us today?


With love and gratitude,

Luisa