Hi everyone! I'm Yehalah and I'm a '26 coming all the way from Colombo, Sri Lanka. I plan to study Engineering possibly in the Renewable Energy field. I have an ongoing eternal quest for mangoes on campus and I'm currently spending hours drawing a crumpled up piece of paper (Swifties assemble) for my drawing class! I'm so excited to share my Dartmouth journey with you and I hope you enjoy the ride!
My name is Yehalah and I'm a '26! First of all, if you're struggling to pronounce my name in your head, don't worry, I've never met anyone who has gotten it right on the first try.
I have lived in Sri Lanka my entire life, except for a few years in Singapore when I was younger. I had actually never traveled outside of Asia until I came here! Leaving my family behind and traveling alone, for 26 hours, across three flights was, to say the least, challenging but Dartmouth has more than exceeded my expectations, it has been outstanding! (Potterheads please notice my reference).
On a completely different note, if you're looking at this post that means you're interested in Dartmouth! I know how exhausting the application process is and I just want to say that I am proud of you; you're looking in the right place.
As an international, first-generation low-income (FGLI) student I hope my blog serves as a space where I can help people like me (and not like me!) gain insight into the many ways Dartmouth can become a second home.
At New Student Orientation!
The past month and a half has been a whirlwind, from the FYSEP Summer Session to International Orientation and First Year Trips. It feels like I just got here yesterday and like I've been here my whole life at the same time- which barely makes sense, I know. The FYSEP Summer Session which is a one-month long orientation program for first-generation, low-income students was easily one of the best experiences of my life. I met the most brilliant people (both students and staff) which gave me a community here at Dartmouth that I am so grateful for.
I am interested in pursuing Engineering with a possible concentration in the Energy field. However, because of Dartmouth's great academic flexibility, even though I'm pursuing a STEM concentrated major, I still have countless opportunities to explore the arts and extracurriculars.
I'm taking Drawing 1 this fall which is my favorite course for this term!
Drawing crumpled up pieces of paper for my class
Being an FGLI student can be difficult and different but I've made it this far and I know I have the best resources for me to succeed. I actually applied twice to Dartmouth, got in the second time and here I am, writing to all of you as I'm about to start week two of classes!
The sunset from my dorm window!
Stay tuned as I navigate the college on the hill and fight the urge to blast "Out of the Woods" by Taylor Swift every time I pass a cluster of more than five trees.
Life as a First-Generation and Low-Income student is complicated anywhere you go. Here's my honest perspective and story from the Dartmouth point of view.
Are you scared to study abroad because of finances? Well, with Dartmouth you don't have to be! During my study abroad in Rome, the Financial Aid office helped me talk about finances abroad!
In honor of my first month at Dartmouth, I want to provide excerpts from my journal, hopefully lending a condensed understanding of how I am settling into Dartmouth.
Hi everyone! My name is Matt, I'm a '26, and in my first blog post, I introduce myself by sharing my background and story of how I got here. I also included how my first few weeks have been going!
The past month and a half has been a whirlwind, from the FYSEP Summer Session to International Orientation and First Year Trips. It feels like I just got here yesterday and like I've been here my whole life at the same time- which barely makes sense, I know. The FYSEP Summer Session which is a one-month long orientation program for first-generation, low-income students was easily one of the best experiences of my life. I met the most brilliant people (both students and staff) which gave me a community here at Dartmouth that I am so grateful for.
The sunset from my dorm window!
