![Portrait of Michal](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/400x420_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-author/image/michal_profil_blog_-_michal_demeter_tvrdon.jpg?itok=F_iApsX1×tamp=1694701618)
![People silhouetted on the summit of Moosilauke](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/400x236_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-author/bg/blog_background_-_michal_demeter_tvrdon_cropped.jpg?itok=etRnnu7-×tamp=1694703885)
Michal Demeter Tvrdoň
![Portrait of Michal](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/400x420_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-author/image/michal_profil_blog_-_michal_demeter_tvrdon.jpg?itok=F_iApsX1×tamp=1694701618)
![The image presented is of me climbing in a blue jacket, and dark pant's 30 feet about ground](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/400x274_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-post/photos/20240421_140036-s.jpg?itok=5F1gu0NW×tamp=1713900657)
The Importance of Extracurriculars in College
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.
Posts You Might Like
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Sweets you can't resist. really. can't.
![Profile picture of the blogger outside Sanborn Library](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/60x60_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-author/image/screen_shot_2022-09-18_at_6.33.44_pm.png?itok=4qv8jBTV×tamp=1688587481)
![My friends and I posing by the stage on Gold Coast Lawn surrounded by a crowd of students.](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/400x274_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-post/photos/img_4341.jpg?itok=581I7AhO×tamp=1717023768)
Green Key is one of Dartmouth's major spring festivities, bringing two popular music artists to our Gold Coast Lawn. My weekend was filled with friends and fun!
![Arianna smiling at the grocery store](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/60x60_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-author/image/img_7676_-_arianna_dunkley.jpeg?itok=eQQiMmwB×tamp=1694612412)
![A panoramic view of an engineering career fair at Dartmouth's Computer Engineering and Science Center.](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/400x274_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-post/photos/career_fair.jpeg?itok=z2S5vLai×tamp=1716731947)
What is the Center for Professional Development? What's so great about it? Read on to learn about my experience with it!
![Nathan in his Dartmouth sweatshirt in his bedroom](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/60x60_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-author/image/img_3925_-_nathan_hammerschmitt_le_gal.jpeg?itok=b101ewC2×tamp=1694611771)
![blog_4032 × 3024_kayaking](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/400x274_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-post/photos/img_7518.jpg?itok=_yZo_F2Z×tamp=1718745977)
What an incredible spring! This term was undoubtedly my favorite that I've experienced thus far, and as I wait to board a flight back to campus for a highly anticipated Sophomore Summer, I reflect on everything that allowed this spring term to bloom.
![Me! blog_828 × 1026_brendilou](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/60x60_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-author/image/img_1226.png?itok=U8hQQ4ev×tamp=1663881287)
![canvas site](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/400x274_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-post/photos/img_5004.jpg?itok=ObvVgJpC×tamp=1716471422)
This past spring term, I took 4 very different courses, which were all very interesting. I thought I'd share what they're about!
![pic](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/60x60_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-author/image/img_1827.jpg?itok=BAuyur99×tamp=1665456638)
![a picture of the sunset Kalina saw from the car on their way back from the mountains](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/400x274_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-post/photos/img_3299.jpg?itok=dSUelDy_×tamp=1716154101)
From Lonesome Lake to Mount Kinsman: my iconic Green Key story.
![Kalina standing amidst the autumn leaves](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/60x60_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-author/image/kalina_duncheva_27_-_kalina_duncheva.jpg?itok=1Spk_Kot×tamp=1694612135)
![Hannah, Elise, and Reagan at GIS Hoco Alumni event Hannah, Elise, and Reagan sitting next to each other in the Dickey Center at GIS Hoco Alumni event](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/400x274_blog/public/admissions/wysiwyg/53298494155_9f1b67a3bb_c.jpg?itok=5NxwG85W×tamp=1715974445)
I lived on the same dorm floor as the GIS LLC (Living Learning Community) this year. I asked some of my floormates about their experience with it so that you can hopefully get a holistic sense of what GIS is like!
![Portrait of Lily sitting in the woods](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/60x60_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-author/image/lily_10-12_-_lily_johnson.jpg?itok=kREBBEd0×tamp=1694612886)
![The StoryCorps Booth in Atlanta A dark recording booth with a microphone and computer](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/400x274_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-post/photos/img_7027.jpeg?itok=iV3JiRAy×tamp=1712427342)
My experience with the Dartmouth Dialogues project!
![Caroline York](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/60x60_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-author/image/screen_shot_2023-11-05_at_8.02.39_pm.png?itok=thXR9tY4×tamp=1699214588)
![A picture of the inside of a plastic greenhouse. In the middle, there are two long tables covered in trays of seedlings](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/400x274_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-post/photos/img_4825.jpg?itok=DbUfH2_g×tamp=1716251842)
This term, I've worked part time as an intern at the Dartmouth Organic farm. Here's a recap of what we've been up to during the spring season!
![A selfie of a young man smiling. He has brown hair, a red beard, and is wearing a blue hoodie.](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/sites/admissions.prod/files/styles/60x60_blog/public/admissions/content/blog-author/image/img_0106.jpg?itok=H2SYYuA3×tamp=1708899927)