Delphine Ledroit

Student

“Unless we do something, the conflicts will come to Europe as well, and we’ll have the same level of gang activities.”

When asked why a criminology student would concern herself with an acting class, Delphine Ledroit has a very unique and practical answer. “I don’t want to be an actress,” says the native of Paris, France. “But I thought that, to practice my English, acting would help. I have to speak in front of a lot of people, I have to speak loud, and people have to understand every word I say. To me,” she continues, “this is more fun and exciting than a speech class.” And doubtless, more challenging too. But Delphine is not one to shy away from challenge.

“I was in law school in France where you can only take criminology for one year. But when my teachers saw how much I love it, they told me if I really wanted to learn it, I should go to the States. And so I came to SMC and I have found so many great classes. We are reviewing fascinating cases every day. Criminology is a very concrete study,” she adds. “But in a way, it’s also like a mystery, a movie.” And though her studies certainly contain elements of drama, there are many ‘scenes’ which Delphine fears may soon be playing out in the streets of Europe.

“We have a lot of the same problems in Europe that you do in the States, though not so bad because there isn’t such a huge difference between higher and lower income classes,” she says. “But the class I have now on juvenile delinquents has made me feel we must do more for the kids. They are growing up everywhere without much understanding. And there is much more we must do if we want to prevent them from becoming criminals.”

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