Camille Durance, Class of 2021

Can you take us through your academic background?

I did not do all my studies at Sciences Po. After failing the entrance exam for the Undergraduate College, I enrolled in a dual Bachelor’s degree in Public Law with Political Science and Philosophy at the Catholic University of Paris. That confirmed my passion for philosophy.

Meanwhile, I was still holding firmly onto my dream of studying at Sciences Po. So, after my Bachelor’s, I applied for a Master’s at the School of Research (formerly the Doctoral School). In early June 2019, I was thrilled to receive the long-awaited admissions email: look out Sciences Po! The following two years were very unique. As soon as I arrived at the 27 rue Saint-Guillaume, I was star struck: seeing the Péniche, being part of a magical atmosphere, surrounded by students all wanting to learn and make a difference, attending classes with inspiring professors in the Emile Boutmy Lecture Hall and at the School of Research, working at the library and so much more. Those first months exceeded my every expectation. Then Covid arrived and turned things upside down. I was fortunate to be able to spend the lockdown at home with my husband. Remote teaching meant I could continue to learn, albeit in different circumstances.

What inspired your interest in political science?

My interest in political science is above all an interest in political philosophy. During my interview, one of the questions the admissions jury asked me was how to define the term “paradigm”. In my answer, I wanted to demonstrate both how practice needs theory and how theory is useless without practice. I am not really interest in purely “stratospheric” philosophy that has no basis in lived realities, so my master in Political Theory was a good way to unite two passions: philosophy and politics.

What did you take away from your years of study at the School of Research (formerly the Doctoral School)?

My two years at the School of Research were extremely formative in terms of intellectual rigour. I learnt a lot about how to organise ideas and present them orally. Moreover, the variety of courses on offer opened my mind to new and fascinating subjects: justice, environment, democracy, inclusion, teaching and more. I am very grateful to have studied there.

Which lecturer or course made the greatest impression on you?

The lecturer who made the greatest impression on me is my C1 English teacher, John Angell. Mr Angell, I’d like to take this chance to thank you directly for your empathy, generosity, humility and boundless intelligence. You helped me to grow as a student but even more so as a person. With my utmost respect, thank you!

What are your memories of your school, class and lecturers?

My lasting impression of the institution is of a place filled with curiosity: that’s what makes it such a vibrant and stimulating place to study. Everything is an opportunity to reflect, question, discuss. The dedication of both students and faculty is another central feature. I also made some wonderful friendships, which will last me through the years, I hope. Both the school’s faculty and its academic staff played a big role in making the two years so special. I would especially like to thank Marie-Hélène Kremer and Annabelle Lever for their kindness and availability.

How did you go about planning your career and where do you work today?

I didn’t have a clear career plan because I changed my mind a lot, but I would say that I was slowly but surely settling on the teaching route between the end of my Bachelor’s and my Master’s. That has since come to fruition as I am now a qualified philosophy teacher. I am currently in a trainee placement and I love my job! As a young teacher, what I have taken away from my two years at Sciences Po and my three at the Catholic University of Paris is a curiosity about a huge range of subjects and the inspiring memory of the teaching methods and attitudes I observed among my lecturers: availability, kindness, rigour, respect and trust. In addition, as an exception due to the pandemic, I was given the opportunity to do a seven-month internship at the organisation Impulsion75. This helped to confirm my career plans. While there, I taught philosophy classes to young people from underprivileged areas of Paris, all of whom were working hard to find a job or go back to their studies. This experience was a decisive one for me.

Do you have any advice for students hoping to enter the field in which you work today?

Deciding on a career is hard nowadays. The advice I would give to students hoping to work in the field of political science is to be highly disciplined and work hard on the theoretical side of things, but also to get frequent professional experience through internships or volunteering opportunities, and to start seeking these out as soon as possible. Once again, I am convinced that practice and theory work best when combined.

Learn more

• The Master’s in Political Science, Programme in Political Theory

>=> See all the Graduates' Portraits

[ December 2021 ]