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 winterim period. At Dartmouth, you have a six-week break after your fall term. I am spending my time in Hanover and spending time with my friend, Sherry '24. The campus is kinda empty because everyone has gone home for the break to enjoy the holidays with their families.
Nevertheless, we are exploring Hanover and taking the local public transit to West Lebanon to explore life outside of Dartmouth College. An adventure that was noteworthy was when we went to a local pet store which was awesome because I saw a ton of little fish and little chinchillas. Afterwards, we explored Target and got a ton of snacks. I got a ton of food. Personally, I love the pretzels, cranberry juice, and fruit snacks that they have in stock at that specific Target location.
After our ambitious adventure, we went on the bus and headed back to Hanover. I would say that this experience was wonderful. It was a nice feeling to explore different places and meet new people in the greater Upper Valley community. I have never been on the public transit before this experience because during the term I never really had the time to leave campus. FYI, it usually takes 2x the time to get to your location via the public transit system, so make sure to plan accordingly and to account for that longer time frame.
I want to note that Hanover during the winteirm is really beautiful and ominous. It gets cold, but warm when with others. I love spending time watching Netflix and taking a break from the previous term. I am grateful for my friends during the winterim and using this time to continue to explore myself and the world around me! Until next week! :)
At Dartmouth, there is an undergraduate requirement for language; after all, it is the liberal arts! Fulfilling this requirement looks different for various people and I will focus on my experience.
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.
Traditionally, Dartmouth students take three courses during a term, but I decided to take four courses this term! Learn about course load and the academic system at Dartmouth.
As I approach the halfway mark of my Dartmouth journey this spring, I find myself reflecting on the significance of distributive and world culture requirements in shaping my academic experience.
