Hi everyone! I'm Yehalah and I'm a '26 coming all the way from Colombo, Sri Lanka. My academic passions lie in Energy Engineering and Environmental Studies. I am a first-generation and low-income student, actively involved with the community. I love to paint and read during my free time. I'm excited that you're here, and I hope you enjoy this account of my life at Dartmouth!
Taking an art class has long been a dream of mine. Drawing 1 with Professor Enrico Riley exceeded my expectations greatly! He is an inspiring instructor who allowed us creative freedom, while guiding us in the right direction. We drew in different forms of charcoal, with colour introduced towards the end of the term. I loved my experience and I cannot wait to take another Studio Art class!
The sequel to Drawing 1 with Professor Enrico Riley! We worked in oil paint, which I was completely new to and admittedly afraid to use. I ended up falling in love with the medium and the flexibility it gave me to adjust and refine my paintings at any point in the process. I am sad to finish this class and I hope I get to take another Studio Art class in the future!
Moving to America was a drastic adjustment, especially considering the difference in perception of race and ethnicity. This class gave me a insight into past and current American oppression against Black and Indigenous communities. I loved how much I learnt through this class, which was also my First Year Seminar requirement.
My first language class at Dartmouth! Taking German was intimidating, especially because of the fast-paced and rigorous learning method that Dartmouth uses. It was so interesting to learn the different grammar and rules used in the German language. I cannot wait to use my Beginner German skills in Berlin next Spring!
The Sacred Architecture of Asia is one of the most incredible courses I have taken at Dartmouth! The course is primarily discussion-based, with Professor Seher explaining and initiating conversation about the course material. The material assigned was incredibly inspiring and taught me so much about South Asian religions and their beginnings. Everywhere I travel now, I think about the lessons I have learnt in this class and I am truly grateful to Professor Seher for facilitating an incredible learning experience!
Learning about German history in Berlin was a great way to explore the city and culture! The class had weekly excursions where we visited important sites in Berlin, which was so informative and helpful. Overall, I learnt so many new aspects of Germany and the people who played a significant role in German history.
SummerPerrysburg, Ohio
Interning at First Solar, a solar panel manufacturing company! I work on the Application Engineering team under Product Management, developing ways to better serve our clients and enhance our products. It has been an amazing experience so far, I have learnt so much and I am so grateful for this opportunity!
I spent Easter Weekend this year in Prague. Despite the fact that we had just landed in Berlin, we had a long weekend, and everyone wanted to explore! A large group of us decided that we wanted to visit Prague, which is only a train ride away from Berlin.
The four-hour ride to Prague was incredibly scenic, boasting beautiful fields in the countryside. When we finally arrived at the station, we walked to our hostel and immediately realised how different the city was. There were cobbled streets and ancient architecture. It was like walking through a museum, except the entire city was one.
On Saturday morning, we woke up early to explore the city and had Trdelnicks for breakfast! Trdelnicks are the signature Czech ice cream cones and they were delicious, despite being way too much ice cream for one person. We walked across Charles Bridge, which was beautiful. It was a warm day, and the bridge had artists painting tourists and many musicians. We made our way across the city, stopping at little stores to try local cuisine.
The Trdelnicks we had!
Towards the afternoon, we headed up a hill to Prague Castle, which was built in the 9th Century and is one of the largest castle complexes in the world. We were able to obtain student tickets, with our Freie Universität student identification cards. Within the complex was a vast cathedral with the most intricate mosaic glass windows I have ever seen. The residence halls themselves paled in comparison to the cathedral.
One of the many beautiful glass windows!
Our last stop that evening was a river cruise! The cruise took us through all the important landmarks, and we were lucky enough to see the sunset during the ride. Afterwards, we had a great dinner at a Mexican restaraunt! The food in Prague was extremely affordable and delicious.
On Easter Sunday, we got to explore some amazing markets, with a variety of local art and cuisine. I even got to attend a church service in the morning, at a small church near our hostel. Before our train ride back, I headed to the post office to mail some postcards to family and friends.
Studying abroad has given me so many opportunities to explore new cultures and places! I am loving my time in Berlin, and I am so excited to keep exploring.
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
Unlike some other universities, many of the STEM lecture classes at Dartmouth require concurrent enrollment in a laboratory section. What is it like navigating that time as a student?
Homecoming—a time when current students and alumni gather to relive cherished memories and exhibit large amounts of school spirit. Find out how I spent my second Homecoming Weekend at Dartmouth!
