Hi all! Welcome to my very public blogging page! I am Toni Fabian '25, the middle child of my family, from a small town in sunny Southern California. I plan to study economics and human-centered design. I am passionate about culture, educational equity, and social justice. I will be writing about all things Dartmouth, from the infamous FOCO cookies to the resources and opportunities offered here on campus. I am truly so excited to bring you along with me while I navigate my college journey!
Academic Program
Intended majors: Economics and Sociology; Intended minor: Human-Centered Design
Each week I was responsible for completing problem sets, quizzes, classwork, and discussion boards. Every week we related what we learned in class to the real world. For example, we read about food banks and their past struggles with efficiency. As a class, we discussed solutions and delved deeper by asking questions and collaborating with each other. I loved this class a lot because Dr. Petre made learning really fun and is so kind! I learned a lot of information ranging from different elasticities of demand and supply to the indicators of poverty. This class was awesome!
For my FYS (First-Year Seminar), I took a history course called Gender and Urban Transformation (9L slot). Our class discussions drew from primary sources and historical analyses that dabbled on gender and its intersection with race, sexuality, and class in the development of U.S. suburbs and cities. Essentially, we explored urbanization and suburbanization as a multi-gendered process. I developed my research skills as I drafted an annotated bibliography, book review essay, and prospectus on the Chicano Movement's impact in the realm of higher education from the 1960s to the present in California, Texas, and Chicago. I learned a ton, I am so happy that I took Professor Rabig's course!
Sociology 1 is the introductory course for the Sociology major, and I loved this class so much! We had a ton of class discussions and the material was very insightful. We were assigned a term-long discussion group, and my group leader was so kind and knowledgeable. We analyzed and discussed the reasons behind class stratification, power dynamics, and social and economic inequalities in society. This class has truly helped me further develop my sociological imagination and changed my perspective in life. :)
For the entire summer, I interned for Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano (SJC). Breakthrough SJC is a non-profit organization situated in Southern California that aims to close the achievement gap for underrepresented and underserved students. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have served as a teaching fellow this summer and for Dartmouth's support in preparing me for this amazing and unforgettable experience!
For this week's blog post, I want to feature my friend, Citlalti Gaeta '25. She is originally from Los Angeles, California. Her hobbies include swimming, reading, and making Spotify playlists. At Dartmouth, she is a part of the DCO, Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra. She plays the flute and loves to partake in the termly concerts.
Her favorite thing about DCO is gaining the opportunity to learn valuable orchestra pieces ranging from orchestral to more modern pieces. One of her favorite classes at Dartmouth thus far has to be Sonic Arts taught by Professor Fure. Citlati learned how to use music production software and got the opportunity to create her own pieces and share them with her friends and class.
Furthermore, she is a prospective biology major and plans to go to graduate school. She wants to conduct further biomedical research in her graduate studies. Currently, at Dartmouth, she does research centered around biofilms and the role of the microbiome in Cystic Fibrosis in the O'Toole lab located at Geisel Medical School. She studies the role that a certain type of bacteria called Bacteroides plays in the gut in patients with Cystic Fibrosis.
Also, Citlati works at Novack Cafe, an amazing spot on campus where you can get wonderful coffees and listen to diverse music. She is a part of the Student Worker Collective at Dartmouth. Recently, they successfully raised the minimum wage for DDS workers to $21 per hour. Her favorite thing about working at Novack is the close-knit community within the team. She loves getting to meet new people and make nice Starbucks drinks!
Altogether, I hope this blog post provided some insight into Citlati's Dartmouth experience thus far! Her experience is very valuable and this blog post is only a short snapshot of Citlati's life at Dartmouth. Until next week! :)
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