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!
Sophomore Summer is a much anticipated period of the typical Dartmouth journey. This is the summer right after the second year when most sophomores take classes on campus. It is a requirement for all students unless they are international! Initially established to solve a dorm shortage, it has now taken on a life of its own, becoming many people's favorite term on campus.
Dartmouth in the summer is beautiful. It is sunny, warm, and green all around. I left Dartmouth in March when it was cold and gray, returning to a completely different landscape. I visited campus for a few days after my term in Berlin, and I realized how much I missed it.
However, some international students do not participate in Sophomore Summer. According to visa regulations, after three terms of taking classes, students have to take an "off" term. Many of my international friends who stayed on campus for the summer are doing research. There are many resources to acquire funding for research, such as URAD (Undergraduate Research Assistantships at Dartmouth), EE Just Fellowships, and Presidential Scholarships, to name a few.
After much deliberation, I accepted an internship for this summer at First Solar, a solar manufacturing company based in Perrysburg, Ohio. I am working as an intern on the Application Engineering Team under Product Management. I am so excited about this opportunity, and I cannot wait to share my experience in the coming weeks!
While I am sad to miss the quintessential sophomore summer in my Dartmouth journey, I am so grateful to have a job this summer and explore what work-life is all about. I have had many work experiences in the past, but this is my first job where I will be full-time at the office. My friends on campus are having an awesome time, and I think it is great to be at Dartmouth during the summer.
Some international students take the summer term off, like Antonio, while others take the summer "on," either taking classes (if they haven't done 3-terms taking classes) or doing research, like Batuhan and Memo!
Looking back, I stressed too much about deciding what to do for these three summer months. Just know, whether you decide to pursue research on campus, work an internship or go back home for some rest, it is bound to be a fulfilling summer!
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 a senior, one of the most exciting things for me is my thesis project. In this blog, I describe how to approach making a senior honors thesis. As Dartmouth focuses on their undergraduate research, many students complete a thesis, so let's dive in!
