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!
This week was Dartmouth's 113th Winter Carnival, celebrating all things winter here in Hanover! The activities included ice-sculpture contests, human dog-sled races, skating, and of course skiing and snowboarding.
An ice sculpture from the contest!
In my opinion, the whole of this winter term has felt like Winter Carnival to me. Being my first winter ever, I have been pushing myself to try every winter activity I possibly can. I'll admit, it is difficult to find motivation to stay outside for a prolonged amount of time while risking potential frostbite and sickness. However, I found that throwing myself into winter and embracing it has made this term a great experience so far.
Last week, West House hosted a ski trip that took us to Cannon Mountain! I had the chance to attend a beginner ski lesson with my friends who had also never skied before. The gear, transport, food and the cost of the ski lesson were all covered by West House. I fell multiple times and even crashed directly into my ski instructor, but at the end of the day, it was worth it. I managed to make it downhill one time without falling, which I will take as an accomplishment.
At Cannon Mountain!
Since I tried skiing, why not try snowboarding as well? POCO, which stands for People of Colour Outdoors, is a club that provides a space for underrepresented groups to find their place in outdoor activities at Dartmouth. It is an incredible club led by some amazing individuals. POCO holds meetings every week and hosts many outdoor trips that anyone can join. This week they had their Learn2Ride snowboarding program that I had the opportunity to be a part of! The program included a snowboarding lesson at the Dartmouth Skiway and the snowboard itself to keep!
Smiling for the picture after two hours of falling!
Winter Carnival cannot be addressed without mentioning the Polar Bear Plunge. This is when a hole is created in Occom Pond (which is completely frozen) and students brave the freezing water to jump in and swim to the other side of the hole. Sounds crazy, I know, which is exactly why I decided not to risk hypothermia this year. While I did try to be adventurous this term, I think this maybe something I keep for next year, so stay tuned!
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
