Michal Demeter Tvrdoň
Fighting Plastic Pollution in Alaska
Today, I am reporting from Southern Alaska, specifically Kayak Island. I'm here to clean up the island from plastic pollution, which washes up on the shores; this island stands out for its rugged and pristine environment, which is home to diverse wildlife, including sea lions, harbor seals, and seabirds. It also holds historical significance as the site where George Steller, the first European, set foot on Alaska during Vitus Bering's expedition in the 1700s. In other words, it's an incredible place to work. This awesome opportunity was possible for me, thanks to Dartmouth.
People often write about how awesome the academics at Dartmouth are, but Dartmouth isn't only about academics or the DOC trips. In this blog post, I would like to add a new item to the list of awesome things about Dartmouth:the networking that happens at Dartmouth.
Over time at Dartmouth, I befriended a girl named Mia. Mia's dad has been a fish and game warden in Alaska for the last 20 years, so Mia knows Alaska well. One night at dinner, she told me about a company in Alaska named Ocean Plastic Recovery Project (OPR); the name is quite representative of the goals of this initiative: they send out people from around the U.S., either as volunteers or as paid workers (as in my case), to clean up the beaches of some of the most remote regions of Alaska.
It's not only about the networking; it's also about the people. In my case, I needed two recommendation letters to get this job. This was no problem; I asked another amazing person who, sadly, just graduated from Dartmouth. She was the president of the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) and wrote one for me. If it were some random outing club, this would probably have had a lot less weight. But since it's the Dartmouth Outing Club, the oldest outing club in the country, it means something.I ended up having an incredible experience. I met passionate people, discussed Alaska's fisheries, and was awed by the vastness of the ocean. Being on an abandoned island with 10 other people gives a new meaning to solitude. It's an amazing feeling when everything stops, and you are allowed to—and encouraged to—spend time with yourself. This forces you to start thinking and asking those questions that you have been putting off.
Jobs like this one are not easy to come by because it's not only about making money. It's about being in a cool place, doing what you want with your life, and working on projects that truly make sense to you. In my case, I always wanted to visit Alaska. Additionally, because this island has no infrastructure Plastic Recovery Project flys its workers around on helicopters. So every day, I get to get a tour of the island from above. Lastly, I appreciated the breadth of air away from Hanover as a global citizen—and Dartmouth has been awesome in allowing me to do so!
Posts You Might Like
My sophomore summer interning near Toledo, Ohio and what I did to keep myself occupied!
I recently completed a language-pledge homestay week in the village of Orvinio, Italy as a part of the Dartmouth F.I.R.E. Italian study abroad program!
A snapshot of the long excursions during my LSA program in Spain via captioned photos.
Here are some of my personal highlights of my Sophomore Summer term! (plus some pictures of flowers on campus)
My friends and I rented one of the ZipCars on campus to go spend a day at Hampton Beach!
This past week, I got to participate in a Memory Café hosted by the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth with my club, Dartmouth Forte! What's a Memory Café? Read to find out!
Read about what I've been up to in Seattle during my first off term!
Choosing the right college is a critical decision that extends beyond mere rankings. Without the benefit of campus visits, it's vital to thoroughly research and understand each institution to ensure a fulfilling and safe experience.
Summer is a great time for high school students to visit campuses and better make sense of the schools they want to apply to. In this blog, I will talk about some advice to make the most of your campus visit.