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
When I first found out I'd be in the River dorms for my first year, I'm not going to lie; I was a bit bummed. I had heard that they were not the most ideal dorms to live in because they were "so far" from everything—15 minutes from the furthest part of campus. However, after moving in, my perspective quickly changed. There's honestly no place I'd rather be than French, one of the buildings in the River cluster, and here's why.
1. The walk is scenic and peaceful.
One thing about me is that I enjoy going on walks. My roommate and I joke that if you're in the River dorms, you should add an extra 10 minutes to your travel time when going anywhere else on campus. While some might see this as a downside, at least we're getting our steps in! Plus, it's a great bonding experience to walk and chat with people during the commute. The stroll from French Hall is a lovely way to start my day and appreciate the changing seasons in New England. At night, admiring Dartmouth's beautifully lit campus brings a wonderful sense of peace and calmness. After a long day of classes, grabbing meals with friends, catching up on assignments, and attending club meetings, it's nice to return to the cozy comfort of French.
My dorm, where I take some of the best naps.
2. It's next to the Irving Institute and the Fern café.
French Hall is a short walk fromthe Irving Institute for Energy and Society. This beautiful, modern building has excellent study spaces and collaborative areas. Inside, The Fern café serves acai bowls! I love coming here with friends!
3. The community is awesome!
You may have heard that people in the River dorms form strong bonds, and I can confirm that's true! The community here is fantastic. Everyone who lives in French Hall is a first-year student and is super friendly. When you walk into the building, you'll see people hanging out in the common room—watching TV, baking, chatting, or playing ping pong and foosball. It's been great getting to know people from different floors. On top of that, some of my best friends are my neighbors (shoutout to David and Taha). Life truly wouldn't be the same without the daily debriefs I have with Taha—who lives right next door—and my roommate, Jiya.
Fun fact: we're the only common room with both a ping pong and a foosball table. Anyone is welcome to pull up!
Dartmouth is no stranger to a variety of student-run full-year performance groups in dance, a cappella, improv, and comedy. Sophomore summer is particularly special, as most of these groups allow sophomores to audition and join just for the summer.
In one of my previous posts, I mentioned how I joined a sorority earlier this fall by going through the recruitment process. I've come a long way since then. In fact, I am living in my sorority house for my sophomore summer!
Dartmouth is not just a college. With world-renowned graduate schools, why would we choose to call ourselves a college instead of a university? The story behind that decision dates back to a significant Supreme Court ruling.
On a quiet spring Saturday in Hanover, I traded the usual campus buzz for Monet in the morning and archery in the afternoon—a reminder that Dartmouth weekends can be just as meaningful when they're slow, reflective, and a little unexpected.
During my sophomore spring quarter, I took on the challenge of four STEM courses, and while it has been intense, the unexpected connections across subjects and the joy of learning have made it one of my most rewarding academic experiences yet.
Read about the Sophomore Summer Soiree and how I got to witness the beginning of something that hopefully grows into a long-standing Dartmouth tradition!
