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
How do I say goodbye to a companion who made life at Dartmouth convenient and fun? As we transition into the Winter term, I'm afraid the Hanover snow will be too much for you. From now on, you'll stay in my dorm until the sun comes out again. But I want to thank you for everything you did for me this past fall.
As a so-called "NARP" (Non-Athletic Regular Person), I have dealt with countless "You have a scooter… Are you an athlete?" comments and questions. You've been by my side while I awkwardly responded, "No, I'm not," and explained how my sister, a '24 who graduated this past summer, passed you down to me. But I'm not ashamed; even though I'm no athlete, and there's a stigma attached to having a scooter when you're not one, you've so far played an integral role in my Dartmouth experience.
For starters, you have saved me so much time and miles of walking—especially those 20-minute morning trips from the River dorms to my 9 a.m. class in Anonymous Hall. A core memory of this past term was scootering with my teammate Rafa past the beautiful fall foliage after we won our intramural soccer match near the Rugby House, which is a whopping 45-minute walk from where we live in French Hall! Additionally, you made runs to CVS for snacks or dorm essentials so much easier. Whenever friends asked to go to "late night" (the campus dining option open from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. every night), and I didn't want to leave the warmth of my dorm and walk in the cold, you motivated me to say yes. From picking up my friends to late-night rides around campus, it's sentimental thinking about all the memories we've made together.
I am proud to say that this fall, we've helped break down the barrier around NARPs owning scooters by inspiring more of our non-athlete friends to get one.
NARP or athlete, to anyone on the fence about whether they should get a scooter, I'd say go for it. Having a scooter is such an investment, but it has not only saved me valuable time but has also made it easier to say yes to things simply out of convenience.
Fellow blogger Cooper '28 riding his very own scooter, inspired by myself.
Here are a few tips to be mindful of before you invest in a scooter:
Note that due to safety hazards, scooters aren't allowed to be charged in the hallways. I charge mine in my dorm.
Dartmouth has bike racks throughout campus, making it easy to park your scooter. While our campus is generally safe, bikes and scooters are the most commonly stolen items. Be sure to lock yours up!
