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!
As I approached week seven of the 10-week term at Dartmouth, it was time to start thinking about which classes to enroll in next. This is always a challenge for me because I'm interested in nearly every class Dartmouth College offers. As an electrical engineering major, I'm on a pretty strict schedule with the classes I need to take, which adds to the complexity.
Despite the stress, I find this moment exciting as it challenges me to balance my current deep engagement with the necessity to plan ahead. At Dartmouth, I've developed a strategy of alternating between two heavy STEM terms and one less STEM-intensive term. This approach allows me to explore areas outside my comfort zone and find new avenues for growth.
Last fall, the stars aligned for an easier term, and I decided to take a class slightly outside my usual scope: "Television Without Borders," a semi-production class. I wasn't entirely sure why I chose it, but after emailing Professor Iyabo, I received a quick response—something typical of Dartmouth professors and their dedication to students.
The class opened my eyes to a world beyond right answers and rigid structures. Unlike my physics and math classes, where precision and correctness are key, the film class encouraged me to explore my voice and delve into topics that mattered to me. Here, curiosity was rewarded with more information and encouragement, transforming my understanding of what learning could be.
I enjoyed the class so much that I decided to create a video, even though it wasn't a requirement. This experience inspired me to take another cinematography class in the fall, showcasing how Dartmouth's educational resources foster creativity and personal exploration.
In the end, what makes Dartmouth so special to me is not just the quality education in my major but the opportunity for personal growth and exploration. As N.H. Kleinbaum wrote in *Dead Poets Society*, "We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for." Dartmouth cultivates the parts of you that make life worth living.
For those interested what you will be able to do after one film class you should check out the video I made linked here.
True to the theme of a liberal arts education, Dartmouth requires students to take one or two classes each in several different subject matters, or distributives, in order to graduate.
This fall, I took INTS80.06: Multilateralism and US Leadership. The course was taught by visiting Professor DeLaurentis. We finished off the term with a trip to New York City to visit the UN and various UN Embassies.
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Sarah Getraer '26, a studio art major, showed me around her dorm room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
