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
An introductory Chinese class for beginners that provides a foundational understanding of the language, including pinyin, proper tones, pronunciation, character writing, basic vocabulary, and sentence structures.
A dynamic, hands-on course that emphasizes empathy-driven problem solving, rapid prototyping, and collaborative innovation through team projects, energizing activities, and practical skill-building sessions.
A course that builds on the foundations of Chinese 001 and 002 by introducing more sentence structures and vocabulary, with regular weekly drills to strengthen speaking and tonal pronunciation, and a shift from traditional to simplified characters in the final three weeks.
Whether it's biking to the local fruit store on campus, going on a late-night ride with friends, or exploring the city, biking in China has quickly become one of my favorite activities here. From the moment I took my first ride, I was amazed by how much more the city came to life.
Biking through the city at night is the perfect way to experience something new.
In China, mobile apps like Alipay and WeChat are widely used for payments; unlike in the U.S., where cash or card transactions are more common. These apps handle everything from ordering food to paying for laundry or taxis (which locals call "Didi"). This payment method is faster, but it minimizes the amount of human interaction, which I sometimes prefer less.
Bikes are scattered just about everywhere you look, plus renting them is incredibly efficient.
Alipay works for the blue bikes and WeChat works for the yellow ones.
You just need to scan the code in order to activate the bike rental. Renting is incredibly efficient: simply scan the code to activate the bike, and the app tracks your time. The cost is typically ¥1 to ¥2 ($0.15 to $0.30) to unlock the bike, plus ¥0.5 to ¥1 ($0.07 to $0.15) for every 30 minutes of use. When you're done, just scan the QR code, pay with your phone, and the bike will even talk back to you to let you know it went through!
Traffic is heavy here a lot of the time, making biking the faster option compared to driving or taking a cab. Never have I ever biked in a city this bustling! As you ride, you're immersed in the sounds of mopeds, tricycles, and delivery scooters, mixed with the constant ding-ding of bikes passing. People honk, but it's not out of frustration—more to casually signal to others, 'Hey, I'm here!' You'll see riders with umbrellas, people pulling suitcases alongside them, toddlers in baskets, and students zooming to class, sometimes even watching dramas on their phones. With all that going on, you really have to stay alert, especially with food delivery drivers zipping by in a hurry every so often.
What I love most about biking here is how liberating it feels. Whether it's between classes or after a long study session, biking clears my head and lets me take in the sights. It's also a fun way to explore the city with friends and get some exercise—especially with all the delicious food around! Whenever we catch a whiff of street food or spot a cute coffee shop, we stop to check it out. We've biked past groups playing mahjong on the sidewalk and even watched elderly locals dancing in a plaza. It's been an amazing way to experience the local culture and stay active.
Between vineyard walks and a tasting with the owners, come along on our visit to Mystic Island Winery, hosted by Dartmouth alum KC Kung '98 and his wife, Rita Kung.
At Dartmouth, students have the opportunity to fuse two different academic studies and programs into a single major. Learn more about my modified major here!
