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
Wow. Time flies. From orientation to starting classes and now wrapping up this term, it has felt like a total whirlwind. So much has happened! Where do I begin?
Well for starters, assimilating to college has been a smooth experience for me, mainly thanks to the incredibly friendly, kind, and supportive people here. I'm constantly impressed by their humility, talents, and unique quirks. Through my building, classes, and random encounters, I've made some amazing friends.
My roommate and I during matriculation!
This term, I took three classes. My first class was CHIN 1: First-Year Courses in Chinese. If you've read my previous blog post, you probably already know how I feel about Chinese class (spoiler alert: I adore it). I also took SOCY 45: Inequality and Social Justice, which was very interesting. In every class, we discussed topics like poverty, class, healthcare, and housing access. Later in the term, we had several guest speakers with experience in the Upper Valley who spoke about addressing these issues in the local community.
The last course I took was FILM 1: Introduction to Film, where I learned about stylistic elements such as mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, and sound. We had group projects where we created our own short videos focusing on each one of these aspects, which was my highlight of the class. As someone who enjoys producing films, studying and analyzing the creative choices directors make with these techniques has helped me develop a better understanding and appreciation of film as an art form. After every film class this term, it became a habit for my friend Ryan and me to grab lunch and then head to the massage chairs in the Student Wellness Center (SWC) to decompress.
Since discovering the massage chairs on campus (thank you to my sister and former blogger Sydney, hehe), I've introduced them to a bunch of my friends, and they all love them. You sign up for a 15-minute slot, with three slots available per session.
My friends and I relaxing in the massage chairs. They're amazing.
Aside from relaxing in the massage chairs, I've also spent a good amount of time outdoors—because, you know, balance! I'm just kidding. Dartmouth is honestly so beautiful. My first taste of fall foliage definitely surpassed my expectations, so I've tried to take advantage of every bit of nice weather I could get. Some of my favorite activities include:
My friend Daphne and I rented a canoe for free from the Ledyard Canoe Club and paddled along the river during peak fall foliage, which was absolutely stunning.
My first term was filled with so many highs—meeting great friends, enjoying my classes, and exploring new things. However, a word of warning: first-year flu is very real. Before coming to Dartmouth, I didn't think I'd get sick, but within a month, I caught a cold and lost my voice. I recovered, got sick again, and have been dealing with lingering effects ever since. Pro Tip: stock up on medicine and make sure to visit Dick's House (Dartmouth's on-campus health center) so you have the support to recover.
It's hard to believe that with the term over, I'm already a third of the way through my first year. My time at Dartmouth so far has been highly memorable, reminding me to cherish each term and make the most of every moment.
My friends and I at the Chinese Student Association formal.
When I first came to Dartmouth, the last thing I wanted to experience was the infamous, chilling New England winter—but I've discovered that Dartmouth's climate was a blessing in disguise, and even perhaps my favorite thing about campus.
I sat down with Aarushi Jain '25, a coxswain on the women's rowing team, to learn more about the opportunities to study abroad as an athlete at Dartmouth!
