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 at the end of my week 6 of the winter term. I want to center my reflection on food. Personally, I really enjoy food. More specifically, anything in Collis Cafe I will eat immediately. I love their soups, sandwiches, and pasta. My favorite thing about Collis Cafe is the people. The workers at Collis are one of the kindest and sweetest people I have ever met. I have gotten to meet some of the Collis workers and form interpersonal relationships with them. It really makes me so happy to hear about their day and get to know them more. Currently, I am obsessed with their omelets, they're amazing and really filling.
Other places on campus that I enjoy a ton are Novack Cafe and Cafe Baker. Personally, Novack Cafe is typically really busy and the line can get really long. My advice would be to not go to Novack during their peak hours like immediately after classes. Also, Cafe Baker is a nice coffee shop, their lines aren't as long. I love their waffles, blueberry muffins, and ham + cheese croissants (they're from King Arthur).
If you happen to live in the River Cluster or are near Dartmouth Engineering, I highly recommend The Fern. Personally, their lattes are the best on campus and their sandwiches are top-tier. I haven't had the chance to visit The Fern this term because of the treacherous winter journey and I don't have any classes at Irving. However, it is a really nice place to catch up with friends, eat acai bowls, and do some work.
Altogether, I hope my blog post provided some context on the food options here on campus and the many different cafes that you can go to. I look forward to writing more about any life updates next and reflections. Until next week! :)
I have written about being a student worker plenty of times in the past, but I have yet to talk about one of my favorite jobs ever: ticket selling at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.
Planning on visiting Dartmouth as a prospective student or an interested person wanting to see our beautiful campus? In this post, I share insider tips to ensure your visit is fulfilled!
Witnessing an eclipse was one of the most exciting days in my life to date, and a solid reminder of our place in this universe. Read on to hear about it!
