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!
Solid mechanics is a class all about stress, strain and structure. My favorite part about this class was getting to design, 3D model and construct a wooden bridge from scratch! Using SOLIDWORKS to perform FEA analysis and a laser-cutting machine, my group and I put together a model bridge that held four times more that the desired weight! It was an awesome experience to put our classroom theory into practice. This has been the most exciting engineering class I have taken so far!
First generation college students are students who are the first in their family to attend college! The First Generation Office (FGO), located on Maynard Street, is an office dedicated to help first-gen students form community, navigate college life and explore career options. Since last Fall, I have worked at the First-Gen Office as their Communications Student Director! I create the First-Gen Newsletter that goes out every week. I am also involved with coordinating and attending the office's events. Pictured above is me with the presents my brilliant mentor and supervisor Janice Williams gave me for First-Gen Week! This is a role that is very dear to me, as I am a proud first-gen student and attended the First Year Summer Enrichment Program FYSEP in the summer of 2022.
Last week, the office organized First-Gen week! We started off strong with first-gen proud cupcakes made by The Class of 1953 Commons (FOCO).
My awesome friend Jamylle with her First-Gen Proud cupcake!
On Tuesday, students had the opportunity to spend time with a puppy and send postcards home! This was followed by a dinner in town with Dr. Shontay Delalue, Senior Vice President and Senior Diversity Officer. Featuring a buffet and a raffle, it was a great time to meet new members of the community and enjoy a great dinner! While I could not attend all of the awesome events the next day, such as lunch with the FGO Staff and snacks with the Undergraduate Deans, I did make it to the First-Gen photo. While this captures only a small fraction of our community due to the busy schedules of Dartmouth students, it was heartwarming to gather together with students to take this picture.
First-Gen Photo outside Dartmouth Hall! Photo Credit: Robert Gill
To end an inspiring week of celebration and reflection, we had a talent show on Friday Night, with great cake and lots of great energy! This week made me appreciate the first-gen community and all the wonderful people I have met within it. I truly cannot express how much this community means to us first-gen students and how hard my mentors at the First Generation Office work to help us feel welcomed and supported. To find out more about the office check out the website!
I can't wait to celebrate Winter, so I just had to write a blog post all about it. Read on to hear about all the fun (and affordable) Winter activities at Dartmouth!
After experiencing this Dartmouth winter term, I am ready to write an ode to this cold weather! Here is what a weekend in the Hanover winter feels like.
