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!
The King Scholars Program at Dartmouth is a scholarship program for low-income international students who express interest in alleviating poverty in their home countries. I was lucky enough to be chosen as a part of the Class of 2026 cohort! We receive a four-year scholarship and leadership training throughout our four years at Dartmouth.
For freshman and sophomore years at Dartmouth, King Scholars have Leadership Week, which occurs a week after the end of the fall term. This is where we meet leaders and companies in international development, as well as Dartmouth Alumni in the area. Leadership Week occurs in either Washington DC or New York, alternating each year. Since we went to New York last year, this year we took a trip to DC!
Some important places we visited were the US Capitol building, the World Bank and USAID. Here, we spoke to employees and heard about their inspiring experiences with initiating global change. It was interesting to observe the winding career paths of most people and how they ended up working in social justice. With all the sophomores declaring majors at the end of next term, this week gave us a lot to consider when making that decision.
Throughout this week, we were given leadership training that included assessing our leadership strengths and using them to the best of our abilities. Leadership week has helped me hone my critical thinking skills as we are challenged to think creatively when problem-solving.
In addition to professional development, we also got to explore DC. A highlight of the week was going all the way to the top of the Washington Monument! The view of a powerful city from above was extremely exciting, despite the biting wind.
The view from the top!
It saddens me that this will be my last leadership week, but I have definitely learned a great deal from them!
In Solid Mechanics, we designed and constructed a bridge that held 10kN, around 1000kg! The process, from SOLIDWORKS design to laser cutting to gluing parts together, took us weeks, but it was one of the most rewarding projects I have ever done.
Walking around the Wellelsey campus, it's clear that it was built with intentional incorporation of the surrounding nature. The architecture of many buildings were also mindfully crafted to support Wellesley's unique principles.
