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!
My time in Germany has been rushing by. This week, we went on an excursion to Görlitz, a city along the Germany-Poland border. We left Berlin early in the morning and took a two-hour train to the city. When we reached Görlitz, it struck me how different the city looked from Berlin. The architecture and streets looked Parisian, and it was not crowded. We were met by a tour guide who guided us through the famous landmarks!
At every stop, we admired the preserved buildings and art surrounding us. Our tour guide constantly expressed how Görlitz is comparable to Paris, London, New York and all those "famous cities". He explained how Görlitz had been spared in the war as the armies mostly focused on Berlin. One of the most interesting things was to learn how Görlitz was a popular location for movie filming. The interior of the Grand Budapest Hotel was shot at Görlitz! Inglorious Bastards and The Book Thief were also filmed here. According to our guide, actors and actresses often visit Görlitz as it is less crowded and peaceful than other cities.
A very interesting looking house, with a map of the sun movements on the walls.
We even got to cross over the border to Poland! There was no stark difference across the border, but it was interesting to see the architectural shift. After our short visit, we took a train to see the "Bagger". This enormous bucket-wheel excavator was used to mine brown coal in East Berlin. A group of workers preserved it, and the public can now view it. We got a tour from one of them, who explained how this was used and showed us a video of it in motion. It is so enormous that I could not comprehend how it was operated. We climbed all the way to the top (not for the faint-hearted) and examined the different parts of this contraption.
At the top of the Bagger!
This entire excursion was fully funded by the Dartmouth study abroad program, including all tickets and transport. We were also given 20 Euros for lunch! Dartmouth partners with a local organisation that helps plan these outings. Study abroad programs are designed for immersion and include countless outdoor adventures!
Learn about the different programs Dartmouth offers prospective students to explore campus life, learn about Dartmouth, and enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Hanover!
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?
As an international student, I was hesitant to join Greek Life, but I found a welcoming community. Now, as a junior, I hope to help others find their place too.
