"At Sciences Po, you learn tolerance"

Alexander Stathopoulos comes from a mixed French and Greek background. As he starts his studies at Sciences Po, he is looking forward to meeting others with differing views in a context of free thinking and discussion. The third in our series #FirstYearsScPo.

Why did you choose Sciences Po?

I knew Sciences Po by name and reputation. It seemed to me to be the most open-minded institution. At Sciences Po, you learn tolerance. That is, you learn to see others as they are, to share opinions with them, not to be afraid to express contrary views or to be judged if you think differently. That is how I see Sciences Po.

You are fortunate to come from a dual French and Greek background. Is this an advantage for your studies at Sciences Po?

My mixed background gives me a more complex perspective on what is really happening in Greece. My father lives in Athens. I see what is going on there, the way that the French press talks about the Greek crisis and how Greeks experience it on a daily basis. There are nuances, different points of view, and that is what I would like to contribute. I'm sure that my studies at Sciences Po will give me the opportunity. I think this is what Olivier Duhamel, the chairman of the Fondation nationale des Sciences politiques, was talking about at the Undergraduate College Welcome Ceremony, when he said, "when a teacher tells you white, go and look for the black."

What are your expectations as you start the semester?

I'm looking forward to discussing all these topics at Sciences Po: law, history, social sciences, and especially Europe and international relations. Brexit threw Europe into crisis. We will need to change its governance.

What are your dreams?

I want to touch people. That's why I'm thinking of becoming a journalist. It's important to dream big. I remember a phrase from Oscar Wilde, "Always aim for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.” It's one I would like to live by.

"I want to help people obtain better living conditions." Read the first interview in our series #FirstYearsScPo.

"I am black woman form Haiti. I don’t want any barriers to limit my career options." Read the second interview in our series #FirstYearsScPo.