Hi everyone! I'm Madison. I grew up in Pasadena, California, but spent eight years living in Manila, Philippines, and one year in Spain. I'm planning to double major in Film and Media Studies and Sociology, with a minor in Human-Centered Design. I love spending quality time with people and having good conversations. I'm so excited to share my college journey with you!
Academic Program
Majors in Film and Media Studies and Sociology, Minor in Human Centered Design
At Dartmouth, I'm constantly impressed by student-athlete friends who balance academics, social life, and demanding athletic schedules. Curious how they do it? Read on for a closer look at the life of a basketball student-athlete through Connor.
Q. What does a typical day look like balancing school, practice, and everything else?
Connor: Usually, I go to early morning basketball practice or lift. Then I get some food, shower up, and get to classes, and usually have another workout or optional practice after that. Then I get more food, recover, and do my homework.
Q. How would you describe the vibe of your team?
Connor: It's like a brotherhood. We're all super close; we're all like best friends. We hang out all the time off the court.
Q. Can you share a favorite team memory or moment?
Connor: I would say our last home game, which clinched the Ivy League tournament. We beat Brown at home, and it was the first time in school history. It was pretty exciting, especially seeing the older guys—they got emotional. Helping lead the team to the first winning season since 1998 and turning around the culture was a huge accomplishment.
Q. How do you stay focused or motivated when things get overwhelming?
Connor: Personally, I just have to give it my all. When things get hard, school-wise, I'll go to office hours. There's a lot of support here that will help out if you're falling behind or don't understand something, so usually, just asking questions when I don't understand helps.
Q. What keeps you disciplined or on track with your goals?
Connor: I've always been really goal-oriented. I write down my goals and have them up on a whiteboard in my room, so I see them every day when I wake up. I know what I'm going after and I know the work it'll take to get there, so just seeing my goals every day usually keeps me motivated.
Q. What does "success" look like to you right now?
Connor: Just say giving it my all every day, taking baby steps. It's a marathon, not a sprint, so I would say working each day and making progress.
Q. What have you learned about yourself since joining your sport in college?
Connor: On the academic side, it has been interesting to see how passionate students here are. My whole life, my drive has been basketball, but seeing how talented and passionate people are in different areas has been eye-opening. Students here are going to do big things, and it's cool to see that and meet new people with multifaceted interests. Knowing that the kid you're in a class next to could be a prominent politician one day or a successful businessman is pretty cool.
Q. Any advice you'd give to future students trying to balance academics and sports?
Connor: Enjoy it. Work hard. It can be a challenging process at times, but ask questions if you need to get through certain things. There are a lot of resources at Dartmouth to help you, like the DP2 program (Dartmouth Peak Performance). It's a group of people specifically for athletes. They have sports psychologists, academic advisors, and staff to help with every area. They provide a lot of different recovery options, too, but they predominantly help with the mental side of the sport, as well as recovery. DP2 is a massive resource for student-athletes here.
At Dartmouth, I'm constantly impressed by student-athlete friends who balance academics, social life, and demanding athletic schedules. Curious how they do it? Read on for a closer look at the life of a swim & dive student-athlete through Klara.
At Dartmouth, I'm constantly impressed by student-athlete friends who balance academics, social life, and demanding athletic schedules. Curious how they do it? Read on for a closer look at the life of a baseball student-athlete through Alejandro.
At Dartmouth, I'm constantly impressed by student-athlete friends who balance academics, social life, and demanding athletic schedules. Curious how they do it? Read on for a closer look at the life of a track & field student-athlete through David.
