People silhouetted on the summit of Moosilauke

Michal Demeter Tvrdoň

Class of 2027
A proffesional snapshot of me waring a polo t-shirt, smiling and leaning forward, it was taken during the Thayer engineering career fair

Bio 

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!

Academic Program 

Electrical Engineering + Public policy minor

Favorite Thing Right Now 

Nature

Hometown 

Lozorno, Slovakia

Pronouns 

He/Him

You are here

Michal Demeter's D-Plan

What's a D-Plan?

    • FallHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: PHYS 15 Introductory Physics I, Honors Section

      From my brief experience at Dartmouth, what makes or breaks a class is the professor and—more importantly—their attitude toward teaching. The good thing about Dartmouth is that the chances are in your favor since professors are excited to teach and want to see their students succeed. In my case, PHYS 15 (Physics 15) was taught by Professor Miles Blencowe. I already wrote a blog post about him, but in a nutshell, he single-handedly managed to reawake my love for learning in the midst of a high-paced course load. We covered the basics of mechanics, general relativity, and quantum mechanics. The course has had weekly labs that aim to show the real-world applications of the theory we covered in class. My final rating for this class is 4.9 stars out of 5.

    • WinterHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: MATH 13 Calculus of Vector-Valued Functions

      Math 13 offers a perfect balance between being challenging and manageable. The course has enough workload to keep you engaged and fill a solid part of your day, but not so much that you can’t find time for friends. While the assignments provide valuable practice, they may feel like busy work for those who need less repetition. For a faster-paced option, Math 11 might be a better fit. Math 13 gave me a solid foundation in the Calculus of Vector-Valued Functions, enabling me to take courses like Physics 16 and various Engineering classes. It also introduced me to the value of Teaching Assistants (TAs) at Dartmouth, who host 2-hour sessions where students can ask questions, review the material in-depth, and get the intuition for the way vector-valued calculus works.

    • SpringHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: PHYS 16 Introductory Physics II, Honors Section

      Physics 16 was the hardest class I took in my first year at Dartmouth. It wasn't that the material was impossible, but for the first time, I had to confront the limits of my imagination. The course focused on electric and magnetic fields of charges and currents, and while I can usually solve problems if I can visualize them, this class threw me off. Concepts like the Poynting vector seemed simple at first, but when combined with changing currents and capacitors, I struggled to keep up; although Differential Equations (Math 23) isn't a prerequisite, I strongly recommend having a background in it. Every time a new equation appeared on the board, I had to jot it down to research later; many classmates with stronger math backgrounds had no problem, so don't be intimidated—just make sure you know the math. This class ultimately reshaped my D-plan. I decided to prioritize math courses, not just to get through the material but to gain a deeper, more fundamental understanding of the engineering concepts I'll encounter later. This course made me realize I want math to be second nature when I return to my engineering courses so I can truly grasp the principles behind the problems rather than just apply formulas.

    • SummerSlovakia, Alaska, and Bulgaria

      The goal of my summer was to take a break—not just from my goals but from my everyday grind in general. For the past three years, I've been operating at full capacity, constantly pushing myself. In that time, I've had the chance to explore different parts of the world, learn fascinating things, conduct research, fall in love, and fall out of it. I've experienced so much that I never really stopped to reflect. As Ferris Bueller said in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." So, I slowed down. I went hiking in Bulgaria (see my blog post about it) and traveled to Alaska—because who could say no to Alaska? I also spent a lot of time with my family, something I realized many of my college friends rarely get to do. They're so active and busy that they miss out on moments at home; I'm starting to realize that strategy might not be the best approach. Spending time with my family and taking it slow, reading books, and reflecting was my first step toward figuring out my place in the world. It felt like a strange, almost conflicting experience. On one hand, this was a betrayal of the carefree child inside me who just wanted to live in the moment. But on the other, it was a step toward becoming a better friend, a more thoughtful person.

    • FallHanover, NH

      Favorite Class:  Problem Solving via Object-Oriented Programming (COSC-10)

      Picking a favorite class this term has been tough since I’ve genuinely enjoyed all of them. I’m taking Linear Algebra (Math 22), Problem Solving via Object-Oriented Programming (COSC 10), and Cinematography I: Lighting and Composition (Film 44.09). Since I’m taking an art class, it’s been a more relaxed term in the sense that I’m doing more than just math and computer science. If I had to choose, CS 10 would be my favorite. The class is challenging, but Professor Timothy J. Pierson makes the material fun, covering object-oriented programming along with data structures and abstract data types. On the other hand thanks to my film class, I get access to Dartmouth’s media equipment, including a Bolex H16 film camera and 200 feet of Kodak color film, with development costs covered—truly a dream for a student cinematographer.

A picture of New York Skyscrapers from the central park

My winterim expedition to my distant family in New York and a bit of Slovak history

At the start, coming to the US revolved around pursuing education at Dartmouth and exploring both South and North America. However, this purpose gradually changed as Thanksgiving approached to reconnecting with a previously unknown part of my family.

Read More

Posted 12/11/2023 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts
A picture of my new friends and me

Choosing the Right University: Beyond Rankings and into the Heart of the Institution

When we think about the process of choosing a university, it often revolves around factors like rankings, financial aid, location, and class sizes. It's a logical approach, but it totally omits the spirit of the institution. Let me explain.

Read More

Posted 11/30/2023 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts
My friends with Covid masks and a Dartmouth class of 2027 sign

Reflecting on the Echoes of COVID 19: A taste of a Dartmouth writing class.

In this blog post, I'd like to delve into the impacts of COVID-19 on our society and the invaluable lessons it has taught us. Many of my insights have been shaped by my experiences in James A. Godley's "Writing at the Edge of Democracy" class.

Read More

Posted 11/2/2023 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts
My trippies on top of a mountain during sunrise
Christine, one of the tripiees, looking into the distance over the Sandwitch mountians
A panorama of a dark blue lake surrounded by a dark green forest.
A beautiful sun rise shining over New Hampshire peaks.
My trippies on top of a mountain during sunrise
The beautiful starry nights in New Hampshire.

Honoring Ancestral Wisdom: Navigating Dartmouth's First-Year Hike on Abenaki Lands

We are on the ancestral and unceded homelands of the Abenaki people. This land, known to the Abenaki as N'dakinna (Our Land), includes what is known today as Vermont, New Hampshire, northern Massachusetts, western Maine, and southern Quebec

Read More

Posted 10/31/2023 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts
Picture of the Baker library at night

Navigating the Boundless Opportunities of the American Dream at Dartmouth College.

Coming into the USA, I could feel the 'American dream' in the air. Landing in Boston and seeing the massive buildings, cars, roads—well, essentially everything. I was inspired by the feeling that in this country, anything was attainable.

Read More

Posted 10/13/2023 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts
Michal standing on top of a mountain, holding the Slovak flag.

An Introduction to your Dartmouth Sustainability Guide: Michal Tvrdoň

I'm Michal Tvrdoň, and I'm a future engineer and enthusiastic climate activist. I am from Slovakia, but I lived in Tanzania for two years as a UWCer. I am very active so my blog will be filled with a mix of sports, academics, and adventures.

Read More

Posted 09/28/2023 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts

Pages