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 winter this year has been different from our last. Last year, we got snow during week 3, and this year, there has been snow everywhere (and a lot of it) since week 1. Many upperclassmen warned me that my first-year winter was "mild," I believe it now.
The temperatures, too, have been far colder than last year; this weekend, temperatures went down to -16 degrees Celcius (3°F)! My response was to wear as many layers as possible and my ankle-length coat. I know these temperatures can sound alarming, especially to those from warmer areas. As someone initially scared of the cold, I can assure you there are ways to make the most of it.
There are many resources available for students seeking warm clothing. The financial aid office provides a $300 gift card to LLBean for students on high financial aid. LLBean is a store that sells high-quality winter gear, including jackets, gloves, and warm layers. This initiative allowed me to buy a great coat I wear almost daily!
The Free Market is an on-campus thrift store run by students in the Sustainability Office. All the clothes here are free of charge, and they have tons of warm winter gear. I love finding clothing here, as it is affordable (free) and a sustainable way to shop!
If the Free Market does not fulfill your needs, the LISTEN Thrift Store is a good option in the nearby town of Lebanon. You can get there using the free public transport service, in around 25 minutes! They have a wide variety of winter clothing in all sizes.
I have never been worried about not having access to warm clothes and shoes at Dartmouth. There are resources all around you and people to direct you to it! Once you get past the initial cold shock—and learn how to layer—Dartmouth is a great place to be in the wintertime!
It's easy to forget how easy it is to access walking trails during the hustle of a Dartmouth term. As graduation nears, I am reminded of how special it is to step off campus and enjoy quiet moments in nature.
With a solar eclipse sweeping across North America for the first time in nearly seven years on April 8th came a road-trip with hundreds of other Dartmouth students to a zone of totality near campus: St. Johnsbury, Vermont!
