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 track & field student-athlete through David.
Q. What does a typical day look like, balancing school, practice, and everything else?
David: I usually wake up at 9 and go to my class at 10:10. I go to lunch right after that, and then I usually just come to the Onion, my favorite study spot, until track & fieldpractice. Practice usually goes until 6, then I go to dinner, to the library, and to bed.
Q. How would you describe the vibe of your team?
David: We have a lot of different characters on the team. We are a very passionate group, and we all love what we do, so that makes it really fun at practice every day when we get to run every day in the beautiful Upper Valley and enjoy each other's presence.
Q. What keeps you disciplined or on track with your goals?
David: Consistency. I wouldn't say I'm the most disciplined person, but it's pretty easy to just go through the motions when you have a good schedule and every day you know when you're going to wake up, when you are going to eat, when you're going to do your homework, and when you're going to go to practice. If you can get that consistency down, it's really not that challenging to manage all of my goals.
Q. How do you stay focused or motivated when things get overwhelming?
David: One of the best parts about being on a team is that there are a lot of people who are doing the same things as you, so I like to rely on my teammates for support, especially during those challenging moments. They really keep me grounded and keep me moving forward.
Q. What's been your proudest moment so far as a student-athlete?
David: Staying healthy throughout the entire year has been my proudest achievement. Coming from a different country, living on my own for the first time, and handling school has been a challenge, but being able to continue running and doing what I love has been awesome.
Q. What does "success" look like to you right now?
David: I like to take it day by day. It's easy to fixate on big goals, but what I've learned is that it's much better to break things down into manageable chunks, like rungs on a ladder. If I can accomplish the small goals I set for myself each day, I consider that success because all of the little victories add up.
Q. What have you learned about yourself since joining your sport in college?
David: I think at a place like Dartmouth, there are a lot of different things that you can do, and, candidly, there have been times when I questioned whether I want to keep running at such a high level. But after being here for two terms now, it really solidified that being a part of this track & field is something I want out of my college experience, and it's been really rewarding.
Q. Any advice you'd give to future students trying to balance academics and sports?
David: Try to break things down into manageable chunks. I think every student-athlete coming to Dartmouth has high aspirations, and that's definitely good to have, but having those big goals can leave you feeling dejected sometimes. Take a step back, look at where you are, and appreciate what you've done so far. Once you can do that, things slow down a bit and make things much more bearable and enjoyable.
Winter at Dartmouth has many special traditions, but my favorite winter activities so far have been the "little things": the random, spontaneous adventures Dartmouth students experience daily. Read to learn about my encounter with the "Winter S's"!
