

Griselda Chavez

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Griselda's D-Plan
What's a D-Plan?-
FallOn Campus
Favorite Class: SOCY 48: Immigration, Race & EthnicityAlthough the topic and issues were not completely new to me, I was able to learn more about why current immigration policies existed and the history behind several immigration policies. I absolutely loved the class because Professor Kim was passionate about the course, and the numerous readings we were assigned were very insightful and encouraged class discussions.
WinterOn Campus
Favorite Class: EDUC 20: Educational Issues Contemporary SocietyThe course centers on the educational issues of public school systems and how by creating certain policies or programs we can improve schools and use them as a tool to promote social mobility and equity. The students who took the class were always very passionate to discuss and came from a variety of majors and educational backgrounds, thus enriching class discussions. Furthermore, I loved that Professor Wheelan encouraged us throughout the entire term to "think outside of the box" and inspired us to continue pushing for more change.
SpringOn Campus
Favorite Class: ECON 1: The Price System: Analysis, Problems, and PoliciesDuring the spring term, I was very confused as to what major I wanted to pursue and decided to give economics an opportunity, never expecting that I would enjoy it. Professor Petre did an amazing job of demonstrating how economics could and is used for social issues like environmentalism, minimum wage, and discrimination. Learning about the concepts and employing them was very important to me because I felt like I could learn how to best help communities.

The Road to Social Entrepreneurship
I've reached the end of the Magnuson Center's Social Entrepreneurship Certificate Program, but also the possible beginning of my work in social entrepreneurship!

Community-Building Through Food
One of the challenges of living in the Northeast is the lack of homemade foods that I would usually enjoy in Los Angeles. Living in La Casa has become a way for me to recreate the food and moments I have missed so much.

Making a College Decision
Congratulations to all accepted students! I know this was a rough process and additional challenging decisions have to be made. Therefore, here are some pieces of advice I would like to share.

Expanding Past the Classrooms
The education at Dartmouth extends past the classroom! I was able to take my teachings and recognize them through other fellowships and opportunities.

Reconnecting with Dartmouth
Upon returning to campus, I am reminded of the little things I took for granted, and I have a new appreciation for the following Dartmouth perks!

Working On Campus: Rocky Edition
This fall, I have been working with Deputy Director Sadhana Hall of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences as a student assistant. It's been a great experience to develop new skills and earn money.
Dartmouth Favorites
Here are six of my favorite things about Dartmouth in no particular order! I am only in my sophomore year, so it will be interesting to see how my responses change in the future!
- No. 1
1. Favorite Library Spot: Sherman Art Library
The Sherman Art Library is connected to Baker-Berry Library and contains a variety of information about subjects like Art History and Studio Art. It is my favorite part of our main library, Baker-Berry, because the walls are full of books, and the artificial lighting, as well as the natural lighting, helps me stay focused. Moreover, the room is always quiet, allowing me to stay on task and feel like I am in my own world.
- No. 2
2. Favorite FoCo Dessert: Churros/Apple Dumplings
I couldn't choose only one dessert for this category! FoCo, '53 Commons, Dartmouth's dining hall is usually always great with desserts. They tend to be warm and there is always something new! Both their apple dumplings and churros are great desserts because they are always ready and warm for whenever I need to grab a quick bite. During these times, you will usually see me stashing extra desserts for later.
- No. 3
3. Favorite Season On Campus: Fall
I have been on-campus for all of my freshman year except for summer, and have gotten to experience fall twice. Based on what I have experienced so far, I would say fall is my favorite season to spend on campus because there is a lot more sunlight than the other seasons --- even when it gets to cooler temperatures! Moreover, I enjoy seeing the fall foliage because the colors are beautiful, and I feel like students tend to not feel as drained since the academic year has just begun. Lastly, there are so many delicious warm treats to compliment the weather!

A Family Weekend... But Without the Fam
Family Weekend is super exciting and special, but how do you deal with it when your family can't come?

An Overnight Getaway
With midterms, projects, work, and essays accumulating, I felt like it was the perfect time to take a break from the Dartmouth scene and stay overnight at the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge.
Curating a Strong Fall Term
A new term means students are faced again with making difficult course selection decisions. Here are my class choices for my sophomore fall term!
- No. 1
ECON 28: Public Finance and Public Policy
WHY? After taking ECON 1 my freshman spring and thinking I wanted to major in economics, I decided to take another course that focused more on my concentration rather than taking another prerequisite for the major. My interests lie in public economics and this class has made me certain that the track and major are a proper suit for me.
FAVORITE THING: I enjoy our class discussions the most because I get to learn from my classmates and why our opinions differ from each other. Hearing about their concerns helps me understand and consider issues I would have never thought about while advocating for a policy.
- No. 2
PHIL 1.03: Philosophy and Economics
WHY? At Dartmouth, there are “distributive and world requirements” we have to complete and one of them is taking a course that is considered to be TMV (Systems and Traditions of Thought, Meaning, and Value). Philosophy classes tend to be categorized as TMVs. Therefore, I decided to take a class that intersects with economics and see if I could make connections with both of my courses.
FAVORITE THING: I enjoy talking to other classmates about the various theories we read about in class. It’s cool to see what arguments they consider to be plausible and understand how philosophers have shaped the way our government functions in the United States. Moreover, talking to other classmates helps me understand the material more since everything is very new to me, and it is difficult for me to always be questioning philosophers’ validity.
- No. 3
ENVS 3: Environment and Society
WHY? After deciding I wanted to minor in Environmental Science, I started creating a layout of classes I had to take and ENVS 3 was one of the requirements. I decided to take this class earlier since it is only offered once a year and wasn’t sure whether I would have space during my fall term.
FAVORITE THING: The class is structured as a lecture with more than 100 students. Therefore, group discussions are more difficult compared to other classes. However, the readings and material of the class are always very interesting and informative because environmental problems are tackled through several lenses of social science disciplines. I like how there are two professors with similar and differing teaching styles which keeps the class entertaining.