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 in my room as I finish up my last couple of weeks during the winterim period. Altogether, I am really happy for the experiences and journeys that I embarked on during this time period. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that I was afforded and the lessons that I learned, both professionally and personally.
I want to utilize this blog post as a space to set goals for the upcoming Winter term. I want to preface this by saying that I am very excited for the winter season, it is definitely my favorite time of year. I love the snow that comes from the sky and making snowmen. I am probably biased because I am from Southern California and never got to experience snow before. However, that changed when I spent my first winter term at Dartmouth last year. Personally, I love the cold, the hot chocolate from Novack, and the festive activities that come with the winter term.
A goal that I want to set for myself is the need to continue to explore new adventures and to try new things. I want to continue to live in the moment and take advantage of the many opportunities offered here at the College. I want to continue to meet new people and to challenge myself both personally and academically. I am continuing on my academic journey in economics and want to pursue research at the intersection of education and economics. I want to continue to develop my relationships with friends, professors, and mentors. I am really happy that I have met so many kind and amazing people that want to support me at Dartmouth. I will make sure to update you all on my life as the winter term approaches. Happy New Year and until next time! :)
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!
