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!
I am writing this blog post as I enter the sixth week of my spring term! I have completed the halfway mark of my term. As I am reflecting on my Dartmouth experience thus far, I want to dedicate this post to Dr. Petre. She is a Dartmouth professor who has influenced and guided me in my journey in the Economics department. She has inspired me to pursue the Economics major and further my journey in higher education by working towards a Ph.D. in Economics and Education.
I met Dr. Petre during the fall term of my first year, I took "Economics 1: The Price System: Analysis, Problems, and Policies" with her. Her class taught me so many lessons from the possible externalities that arise from food banks to calculating elasticities of demand and supply. Towards the end of the term, we even crafted a policy memo that incorporated economical topics learned in class. I chose to write my policy paper about the role of school vouchers and analyzed the trends of students leaving public schools for private schools, and the direct and indirect effects that these shifts in enrollment sizes have on the total amount of funding for schools throughout the United States.
I learned a ton in her class, but what made the class so special for me was her love of teaching. She genuinely cares about every student and offers support and resources throughout the term to ensure that students are successful in her rigorous class. Her kindness and compassion supported me tremendously as I progressed throughout the busy weeks of the fall term.
During my winter and spring terms, I met with Dr. Petre to update her on my life, my aspirations, and my plans for the future. Dr. Petre is truly a professor who I will always look up to and go to for guidance.
This is my final term before senior year, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. One thing I am excited about is the classes I am taking this term, so let me tell you more!
This is part two of me "nerding out" about my honors thesis! If you want to learn more about independent projects, theses, or the humanities at Dartmouth, check it out!
Many small classes at Dartmouth are seminar-style and are the cornerstone of the intellectual exploration and intentionality that define the learning experience at Dartmouth.
