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!
The sequel to Drawing 1! Undoubtedly harder, but definitely a great class. I can now say, with confidence, that I am able to paint a mango successfully.
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 Joan Sloan Dickey Centre for International Understanding, or The Dickey Centre for short, was created in 1982 with the purpose of uniting various individuals to broaden the scope of learning and address global challenges. The Dickey Centre is also a great resource to find and create internships!
I am a part of their Great Issues Scholars programme, which I joined in the Fall. It facilitates a year long series of events, that is aimed at enhancing the students' understanding of current international issues. This programme has helped me comprehend global problems at a much deeper scale. It connects us with alumni, renowned guest speakers and faculty.
One important event that I personally found extremely eye-opening was a discussion about a realistic two-state solution regarding Israel and Palestine. It was with speakers Yossi Beilin, the former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and architect of the Oslo Accords, and Omar Dajani, who was on the Palestine Liberation Organization's Negotiations Support Unit. They were both brilliant individuals who had worked together many times and really helped us understand the work they were doing.
Great Issues Scholars also hosts termly simulations. Last term, the Dickey Board of Vistors Chair led us through a real-time approximation of public health policy and negotiaion, where the students were members of the Presidential Task Force. By hosting engaging events like this, Great Issues Scholars pushes us to approach conflicts in an efficient and successful manner.
A few weeks ago, in a Great Issues Scholars event at Rauner Library, we had the opportunity to read and examine old texts from the Dartmouth archives! Most conferences and meetings are held in person, with students being able to directly interact with visiting experts. There is plenty of time allocated at the end to ask questions as well!
At Dartmouth, there is an undergraduate requirement for language; after all, it is the liberal arts! Fulfilling this requirement looks different for various people and I will focus on my experience.
Traditionally, Dartmouth students take three courses during a term, but I decided to take four courses this term! Learn about course load and the academic system at Dartmouth.
As I approach the halfway mark of my Dartmouth journey this spring, I find myself reflecting on the significance of distributive and world culture requirements in shaping my academic experience.
This is my final term before senior year, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. One thing I am excited about is the classes I am taking this term, so let me tell you more!
This is part two of me "nerding out" about my honors thesis! If you want to learn more about independent projects, theses, or the humanities at Dartmouth, check it out!
