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
Before the spring term started, everyone kept telling me the same thing: "Spring term is the best one." Between the warm weather, good energy on campus, and Green Key, it seemed like everyone had high expectations—and honestly, I did, too.
But as the Spring term slowly comes to an end, I don't think I could pick a favorite. Each term at Dartmouth has felt so different, and I've genuinely enjoyed them all. In a weird way, it's like each term has been its own season in the show that is my first year of college. New classes, new clubs, new friendships, shifting interests—it's all added up to a lot of growth.
What really surprises me, though, is how fast it's all gone. It's hard to believe that my first year is already wrapping up. Looking back on it, I can't help but feel pretty sentimental. Since I've already written about my fall and winter, I figured it was time to reflect on spring—the term that everyone hypes up the most.
Outdoor festivities:
Knowing how time flies, I made a point to spend as much time outside as I could this term. The weather was all over the place—some days were warm and sunny, others cold and rainy—but when the sun came out, it made such a difference. Everyone's mood seemed to lift. The Green would come alive with people playing spikeball, studying, eating, or just hanging out with friends. I spent a lot of time there myself, just taking it all in. Outside of the Green, I went canoeing, went on runs, played tennis, stargazed, and took plenty of "woccoms" (walks around Occom Pond). All in all, being outside and enjoying the nice weather made the term feel a lot more vibrant.
More side quests:
Besides all the outdoor adventures around Hanover, I also got to get out of town a couple of times. One trip was to New York with West House, where we saw Chicago on Broadway, explored the city, and I caught up with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. West House kindly took care of transportation, hotels, and some meals, which were much appreciated. Later, I took a road trip to Boston with some friends—we explored the city and ended the night at an incredible Empire of the Sun concert. Both trips were a nice change of pace from the term and a lot of fun to experience.
Dumbo's view of the New York skyline.
A snapshot of Empire of the Sun live on stage.
Academics:
This term, I took Introduction to Chinese Culture and Chinese 3. I'm heading to Beijing this summer for a Language Study Abroad, so two of these classes were prerequisites for the program. From learning about Chinese dynasties and reading works by famous singers and poets to exploring Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and more, I really enjoyed diving into Chinese culture while also building my language skills in Chinese 3.
Apart from those two courses, I also took my seminar class, Cognitive Don Quixote, which is a required course type for all first-year students. In the class, we followed the novel Don Quixote—a classic of Western literature often referred to as the "first modern novel." Additionally, we spent a lot of time learning about research methods. One of the coolest parts was visiting the Rauner Special Collections Library, which has a whole collection of Don Quixote editions donated by an alum. Flipping through those old books in person was a special experience that made me appreciate how easy it is to access rare and fascinating materials at the library.
My friend and I flipping through a rare edition of Don Quixote in the Rauner Library.
Green Key:
Last but not least, I can't leave out Green Key, a huge spring weekend celebration with live music, food, games, and all kinds of outdoor activities. Green Key is the perfect opportunity to spend time with friends and enjoy the springtime energy. I'd heard so much about Green Key leading up to the event, and I finally got to experience it for myself!
At Green Key, Jay Sean and A$AP Ferg performed live. We got to hear hits like Down, Plain Jane, and Dreams, Fairytales, Fantasies, which was so exciting. Other highlights included spotting a rainbow, hanging out with friends, and checking out the Norwich Farmers Market, where there was free food and live music.
Overall, I can see why so many people love the spring term. With events like Green Key, plenty of outdoor activities, good vibes in the air, and the chance to try new things, it's easy to feel energized and connected to the community.
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Isabelle Sullivan '26, an environmental studies and geography major, showed me around her room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
There was never a single "aha!" moment of clarity when I knew that Dartmouth was right for me, yet now, it is impossible for me to imagine having chosen anywhere else.
From a tight-knit study abroad cohort to intimate classroom moments and inspiring literary talks, French has grown far beyond a minor — becoming a thread that runs through the most meaningful parts of her Dartmouth life.
Green Key weekend at Dartmouth was filled with concerts, free food, live music, reunions, and spontaneous moments with friends. Read on to hear why this weekend reminded me what makes spring term at Dartmouth feel so special.
Amid the whirlwind of a ten-week term, the quietest moments — studying in the sun, cooking with a friend, running through Pine Park — turn out to be the ones worth savoring most.
