My name is Michal, but I often end up being called Michael. I am a '27 from Lozorno, a small town outside Bratislava (Slovak capital). I am an exUWCer. I am passionate about climate change and sustainability in general. I want to devote my life to making this world a little more sustainable. I am an incredibly curious person and I'll be exploring as much of Dartmouth as possible from hardcore research to different sports to American culture. Please enjoy my adventures and thoughts on Dartmouth!
Choosing a college is a major decision. It determines not just your activities but also your lifestyle. It is crucial to consider what you want your life to look like when considering where you want to go to college.
I often find myself blogging about the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC). Although this is a massive part of my Dartmouth experience, that is not the case for everyone—my day-to-day involves a lot of activism, outdoors, and a bit of research! I've realized that the DOC plays a significant role in my daily life here, not because I'm out on DOC trips every other day, but because it provides me with a vital break from academics. I sometimes struggle to "zoom out" and see the bigger picture, which would help distance me from my minor day-to-day challenges; this is why the DOC proves invaluable to me. Regardless of my mood, I sign up for trips and make a concerted effort to get outside—unless it directly conflicts with my courses.
Currently, I climb once a week as part of a "lead class"—a program run by experienced climbers that teaches new members of the Dartmouth Mountain Climbing (DMC) essential skills for climbing over six consecutive weeks. The goal is to teach DMC members "lead climbing," which involves the lead climber attaching their rope to bolts fixed in the rock, requiring intense focus and physical engagement—so much so that I'm too focused on not falling to worry about anything else. Through these courses and climbing trips, I have found that climbing is one of the few activities I do purely for enjoyment!
Ultimately, whether you're into climbing or some other hobby, the key is to engage in activities that allow you to appreciate life fully. After nearly a year at Dartmouth—and having made friends across various clubs, greek spaces, and other social groups—I believe most people can find something at Dartmouth that ignites their passion for life. It is vital to ensure that Dartmouth—or any college you choose—will have something you love to do outside the classroom.
In one of my previous posts, I mentioned how I joined a sorority earlier this fall by going through the recruitment process. I've come a long way since then. In fact, I am living in my sorority house for my sophomore summer!
Dartmouth is not just a college. With world-renowned graduate schools, why would we choose to call ourselves a college instead of a university? The story behind that decision dates back to a significant Supreme Court ruling.
On a quiet spring Saturday in Hanover, I traded the usual campus buzz for Monet in the morning and archery in the afternoon—a reminder that Dartmouth weekends can be just as meaningful when they're slow, reflective, and a little unexpected.
During my sophomore spring quarter, I took on the challenge of four STEM courses, and while it has been intense, the unexpected connections across subjects and the joy of learning have made it one of my most rewarding academic experiences yet.
Read about the Sophomore Summer Soiree and how I got to witness the beginning of something that hopefully grows into a long-standing Dartmouth tradition!
