Gender issues have always been central to my life, whether through my education, my growing awareness of how little history taught us about key female figures, or the debates I had within my own family. Coming to Sciences Po gave concrete shape to this long-standing desire to engage with gender more deeply and academically. My year abroad during my bachelor's was particularly formative, allowing me to explore specific topics ranging from the role and status of women in Antiquity to the challenges surrounding female genital mutilation. Pursuing this certification alongside my Master's in Social Policy felt like a natural continuation: gender can no longer be understood as a separate issue, it must be approached through a transversal lens that runs through our understanding of every social challenge today.

The course that left the strongest impression on me was "Gender and Social Policy," taught by Marta Dominguez-Folgueras. It gave me a comprehensive, comparative understanding of social policy, from the intersections between gender, violence, and migration, to the question of citizenship for sex workers in the Netherlands. More than just providing knowledge, this course taught me to critically question existing social reforms and explore alternatives, while deepening my understanding of how gender inequalities are embedded in our institutions.

My professional experiences during my gap year and this year's apprenticeship have strengthened my desire to pursue a career in the health sector, particularly around mental health, women's health, and the intersection of health and poverty. Whatever specific path unfolds, I know that gender will remain a guiding thread throughout my professional journey.