Hi everyone! I'm Madison. I'm originally from Pasadena, California, but I also spent eight years living in Manila, Philippines, and one year in Gibraltar. At Dartmouth, I plan to double major in Film & Media Studies and ASCL (Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages). Dartmouth has already opened up so many doors for me and truly changed my life for the better, so I'm really excited to share my college journey and experiences with you all!
Academic Program
Majors in Film and Media Studies and Asian Societies, Languages, and Cultures
Having come from the Philippines, where the seasons are literally dry and rainy, and from California, where there's no snow, I looked forward to experiencing the change in seasons upon coming to Dartmouth, including the soothing summer heat, glistening snowfall, witnessing beautiful blooming flowers, and, of course, the vibrant autumn foliage. So, best believe, when the opportunity arose for me to attend the West House trip to Quechee Gorge, I took it in a heartbeat. I had originally signed up to go on the Quechee Gorge trip with my neighbor Taha. However, when we boarded the bus, we ran into several other first-years from our dorm and spent time with them. The trip lasted four hours, and we did several activities.
Activity #1: Hiking Quechee Gorge
After leaving the bus, we went on a 15-minute light hike to Quechee Gorge, which was beautiful. It was a lovely day, and we swam, took pictures, and chatted while soaking up the sun. It was such a peaceful moment to enjoy and take in the beauty of the surrounding nature.
Activity #2: Ice cream and fries!
After the hike, we headed to the "Snack Bar at the Gorge," where we had ice cream and fries. Fun fact: I learned that the ice cream from FoCo (the Dartmouth dining hall) actually comes from the Snack Bar, which is pretty cool! My favorite flavor is black raspberry.
My friends eating ice cream!
Activity #3: Seeing alpacas
Our last activity was visiting the alpacas, which I had never seen before. They're such cute animals, and it was really heartwarming to observe them. They were all different colors and so fluffy.
Activity #4: Hiking Gile
Ever since I got into Dartmouth, my dad has been saying, "Maddie, you need to hike up Gile in the fall during peak foliage." So, I decided to take him up on his suggestion. The following weekend, two friends and I decided to hike Gile Mountain—a popular 30-minute, 1.4-mile hike just 20 minutes from campus, leading to a watchtower with stunning views at the top. I will say it definitely lived up to my dad's hype. Hiking in the fall was beautiful, and I loved witnessing the different colors of the leaves. Even if you're not a big hiker, I highly recommend grabbing a group of friends and going if you get the chance. I promise you you won't regret it!
My friends and I hiking through the woods on our way to the tower
Emmie and I starting to climb the tower
The gorgeous view at the top of the tower. So worth it!
If you are interested in pursuing medicine after graduating from high school, as I was, you'll be looking at how different universities design their "pre-health" experience. What does that experience look like at Dartmouth College?
