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!
Thanksgiving is a tradition that was not a part of my life before Dartmouth. I only vaguely knew what it was, but it is widely celebrated by people in the US.
Winter break at Dartmouth is six weeks, with Thanksgiving and Christmas break combined. While some students stay on campus for this time, the majority travel back home. If you are a student receiving significant financial aid, winter housing and meals will be provided free of charge. I was on campus for Thanksgiving this year, but to be completely honest with you, it can get lonely.
It is important to note that students who are off campus for a term are not eligible for break housing. This applies to students even if they are taking classes in a study abroad program. If students are studying abroad in the fall or the winter, they are not eligible for winter housing, which can be extremely stressful. The best thing to do would be to contact Residential Life as soon as possible to negotiate housing situations!
For Thanksgiving, Dartmouth Dining closes for three days. While there is an option to obtain food in boxes the day before, this can be insufficient as some food will not last for three entire days. A couple of the restaurants in town do remain open, but options are limited.
The United Church of Christ, which is within campus hosts a Thanksgiving lunch which is open to students and non-students! I met many people from the town and had a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
The lunch at the church!
My friends who were still on campus decided to host a Friendsgiving, where we cooked multiple dishes! The best resource we used was the Dick's House 24/7 pantry, where students can access staple ingredients for free. Furthermore, students can also request $25 gift cards to a nearby market for groceries.
If you happen to stay on campus for the break, it is important to plan ahead for the days that the dining halls are closed and utilise all the resources that Dartmouth provides!
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!
