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
One unique feature of Dartmouth that I really appreciate is its Dartmouth Skiway, which students can easily access by a free on-campus shuttle. I bought a season pass for just $59 as a first-year student and have been making the most of it this winter. I try to go every weekend, and skiing has quickly become my favorite pastime.
I never expected to like skiing—it seemed difficult and easy to lose control. I had almost no skiing background when I started skiing at Dartmouth this year. On my first trip to the Skiway, my friend Max brought me down a blue run. I had warned him that I was a complete beginner, but he insisted I'd be fine. Truth be told, I think he overestimated my ability; I managed to get off the lift smoothly, but soon after, I knew I was in trouble.
Trying to get the hang of it but not knowing what to expect, I took off down the mountain. I soon realized I had no idea how to control myself. Before I knew it, I was flying down way too fast. Panic set in, and I tumbled into the snow. Lying there, dazed and breathless, I thought, How on earth am I supposed to get down now?
Then, like a literal miracle, my friend Gage spotted me lying on the mountain. Ironically, during a Dartmouth College Los Angeles (DCLA) event over Winterim (Dartmouth's winter break), my dad had made Gage promise to take me skiing.
"Madison, are you okay?" Gage asked, with concern in his voice.
Before I could answer, Max jumped in. "She told me she was an inexperienced skier, but I thought she was exaggerating."
I let out a nervous laugh. "Don't worry, Gage. You can just leave me here. I'll figure it out... eventually."
He shook his head. "Yeah, not happening. I'm not leaving you alone on a mountain."
Even though Gage was initially with his friends at the Skiway, he left them to spend two hours guiding me down the mountain while his friends lapped us over and over. It was a random act of kindness that meant more to me than he probably realized.
Gage teaching me how to ski for the first time.
Gage taught me the basics of skiing, like turning and stopping. Instead of focusing on the pizza technique, we spent most of our time practicing the hockey stop, which proved beneficial in the long run. It gave me the confidence to tackle steeper slopes and made stopping on icy terrain much easier.
Skiing taught me that you have to be comfortable with falling. You can't be afraid of hitting the ground. You try, you fall, and you get back up because that's the only way to improve. And honestly? Falling hasn't been as bad as it seems. It's just snow, after all!
I lost count of how many times I fell that day. The hockey stop was tricky, and I wiped out over and over before I finally started to figure it out. Even now, I wouldn't call myself an expert. Despite all the falls, I learned with Gage's patient instruction and Max's support, and we shared plenty of laughs along the way. By the time I reached the bottom of the mountain, Gage said I could "sort of ski," which I happily accepted.
After a few more visits, I saw significant improvement in my skiing. Going down the bunny slope a bunch of times and skiing down the Skiway's trails helped me pick up skills naturally and figure out through practicing what worked. It's a lot like learning to drive or ride a bike—at first, everything feels unfamiliar, but with practice, it starts to make sense and eventually becomes second nature.
My friend Sid and I on the chairlift enjoying a beautiful day of skiing.
In just a month, I went from a complete beginner to a proficient skier, carving my way down the slopes. So far, I have done the green and blue runs, though I have yet to try a black. Skiing with experienced friends and figuring things out on my own helped me improve substantially since day one.
The Skiway feels like a whole new world. Every time I go, I know I am in for a great time. Time flies, and sometimes I end up spending seven hours there. It truly is the perfect getaway, only a 20-minute free shuttle from campus—peaceful, thrilling, and incredibly scenic.
A huge thanks to Gage for helping me build a solid skiing foundation and being there from day one—when I slid down the Skiway. I still fall every now and then, but honestly, where is the fun in not?
While many people might associate cold, long, snowy winters with hardship, I've found that winter at Dartmouth is full of potential to be just as fun as other seasons.
I've never felt the saying, "Time flies" more strongly than now. How am I already halfway through my Dartmouth career? This winter marks the end of my 6th out of my total 12 terms, the halfway point of my Dartmouth journey.
