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
Before the school year starts, first-years at Dartmouth can optionally take part in "first-year trips."to kick off their college experience. Students are sent a Registration Form to complete over the summer with a list of 30 different trips to choose from, ranging from Survivor and Survival Skills to Whitewater Canoeing, Mountain Biking, and more. For each trip, there are three categories to choose from, indicating which trips students would like to go on: preferred, available, and not available.
I was assigned Cabin Camping from my selected options, which was my second choice. Trips were divided into four sections, and I was in section C, which left two days after move-in. There were seven other first-years on my trip and two leaders, Jonas Rosenthal '25 and Anushka Saxena '27. I vlogged my trip experience on YouTube, if you'd like to check it out.
I honestly couldn't have asked for a better trips group. Our trip number was C552, and we all got super close during the four days we spent together. Besides swimming, we went on day hikes, cooked meals together, played games, and chatted extensively at the site. As a matter of fact, our group chat is called "Cabin Camping and Yap."
All of us first-years slept in the same cabin, while our trip leaders stayed in a separate one. We even got to stay in bunk beds, which was really fun! We spent two nights at the campground and our final night at the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge with the rest of the trips from section C.
When we arrived at the Lodge, we learned some dances on "Leach Field." Although I'm not the best dancer, it was a fun way to bond with friends as we laughed and practiced the moves together.
Dancing at Moosilauke
The dancing continued into the night at the Lodge, involving partner dances that made it easy to meet new people. We also enjoyed a full-course meal prepared by Dartmouth students, which included lentil soup with bread, salad, lasagna, and brownies.
At 11 pm, we were informed of a "Sunrike"—Dartmouth's term for a sunrise hike—scheduled for the next morning. The catch? I had to leave at 3 am. The hike was four hours long both ways. Originally, I hadn't planned to go since none of my trip members were interested, but I decided to join and ended up having a great time. I made friends I wouldn't have met otherwise, admired the stunning view at the peak, and appreciated the beauty of nature throughout the hike.
The most gorgeous stars I've ever seen while hiking Mt. Moosilauke. Definitely a 10/10 experience.
At the Mt. Moosilauke summit!
Overall, my experience on trips was awesome! It was nice to take a break from the stimulation of orientation week on campus. From cabin camping to spending the night at Mt. Moosilauke, I made many wholesome friendships and memories that will last a lifetime!
From surfing in Puerto Rico to backpacking in Joshua Tree to Norway: Break trips are a unique Dartmouth experience, giving students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the outdoors
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Gabe Brigham '26, a psychology and sociology double major, showed me around his dorm room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
