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!
An Introduction to your Dartmouth Sustainability Guide: Michal Tvrdoň
Hello, everyone! I'm Michal Tvrdoň, a future electrical engineer, aspiring physicist, enthusiastic climate activist, and, oh, don't forget, a hopeful photographer. However, most importantly, I'm a bit of a lost suol—sorry, I meant to write "lost soul" (my beloved dyslexia sometimes plays tricks on me). Bear with me on that front! I have a deep love for travel and immersing myself in various cultures and experiences. Academically, my curiosity knows no bounds, and I'm always eager to learn and understand everything, which might lead me to take on a few too many classes. Especially with all my hobbies, it's bound to be a rollercoaster ride.
Originally hailing from Slovakia, a beautiful post-communist country, I had the incredible opportunity to live in Tanzania for two years as a student at UWC East Africa. Now, as I embark on my journey at Dartmouth, I promise you'll find my blog brimming with exciting adventures and encounters with nature. Lastly, a couple of fun facts about me: I've climbed Kilimanjaro and a few other cool mountains, and I'm truly passionate about astrophotography. So, fasten your seatbelts, and let's delve into the wonders of the world and Dartmouth together!
This blog will be the regulatory body of my time here at Dartmouth. Let me explain: I love studying and working on projects, and I sometimes forget to take a break, chill, and go for a hike or watch a cool movie. But since I am blogging every week, I will need to go on adventures so that I have something exciting to write about.
PS: I would like to prepare you for what's to come. Climate change and the lack of sustainability in the Western world are problems I deeply care about, and parts of this blog will focus on the Sustainability Office at Dartmouth and all the exciting projects around Dartmouth that aim to make this place more sustainable. But at the same time, I want to write about the things we need to change about Dartmouth to make it a truly green school. As you read my blog posts, please see them as an invitation to apply and join me and many others who are already working on solving these problems here. Because, in the end, institutions are composed of people, hence it's us—Dartmouth students and employees—who can hold the school accountable, but at the same time, we are responsible for the change itself.
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!
Here is my list of the restaurants in Hanover within walking distance of Dartmouth. Whether you're touring campus for the first time or are a Dartmouth student in need of a new place to eat, feel free to reference this list!
As I approach the end of my first year at Dartmouth, I would like to reflect on some of the experiences and lessons I've learned throughout this school year.
