Since my Bachelor’s degree, my focus has always gravitated toward gender equality and human rights. Even though I wasn't formally specializing in gender studies at the time, I found myself channelling that passion into my coursework, writing almost all of my papers on women’s rights, resistance, and mobilisation. Later on, while working on women’s economic outcomes for the Australian Government, I realized I wanted a deeper, more structured understanding of these issues, which ultimately led me to Sciences Po. When I learned about the Advanced Certification, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to hone in on this specialization and build the concrete expertise I need for my future career.

My favorite course was Constructing and Contesting Gender in North Africa with Dr Shreya Parikh. This class completely pushed me to think outside the standard gender studies frameworks that we are so used to. It challenged me to look critically at the intersection of race, gender, and Islamophobia—dynamics that, as Westerners, we often misinterpret or overlook when analyzing Muslim-majority countries. It was an invitation to question my own unconscious biases and push my analytical boundaries, while also teaching me a great deal about research methodologies. Dr Parikh is a fantastic professor and a fascinating expert, and I highly encourage anyone at Sciences Po to take her classes.

After interning at UN Women France during my hors-les-murs semester, I am eager to find a position in gender advocacy. There is no denying that the current global climate for human rights and gender equality is incredibly challenging right now. But to me, that reality just means we need to advocate louder and work harder to protect and advance our rights. Ultimately, my long-term goal is to work for UN Women at the international level, hopefully after gaining some valuable hands-on field experience first.