« If I had to summarize this book in one word, I would say it is primarily about otherness. » For Mathilde Boulay, the diversity of paths and experiences is a wealth for society. This message is shaped by her own journey and the encounters she has made within L'Ascenseur, where she supports associations working with young people from modest backgrounds.
She wants to instill a conviction in them: « It's worth it not to give up. » Anger in the face of injustice can become a strength, she believes, as long as it can be transformed into energy and directed « towards something, and if possible, done collectively. »
For Mathilde Boulay, individual merit alone cannot explain success. « I am convinced that we never succeed alone. » Behind every journey, there is a family, an association, a meeting, a person who believed at the right moment. « There is always an invisible ecosystem behind us », she reminds us.
This reflection leads her to question traditional norms of success. « For me, it is perhaps above all about each person in society being able to achieve a form of dignity and fulfillment. That is success. » A definition that, according to her, could allow for a different perspective on journeys and restore a place for everyone in the collective.
