Fina Wheeler
Class: 2017
Graduated with a French major in 2017
Josephine says, "I transferred to Sonoma State intending to pursue a degree in Liberal Studies in the Hutchins program, but certain circumstances led me to take Suzanne Toczyski’s French 201 class. After a semester with Suzanne, I decided to switch my major to French as I implicitly trusted her mentorship and knew that she was a professor I would like to pursue my education under. In undertaking the French major I grew significantly academically, especially as a writer. The French major allowed me to immerse myself in classic texts, but I found there was room within assignments to explore and expound upon issues that are of extreme interest to me, such as feminism, justice, and racial and social disparity. I am so grateful to have been able to study the experiences of humans long ago that also struggled with these issues; these discoveries have affected my worldview tenfold. I truly believe that I received a well-rounded, rigorous, transformational education from the French department that I am ever thankful for."