A member of the Poet baseball team, Justin's teammates helped each other—not only on the field, but also with school work, social issues, and more. That sense of real camaraderie made a big difference for the student-athlete who had just left home in Hawaii.
"The team is why I think I love it here so much," he said. "You have someone to go to. It’s a good community to have."
He also felt that support from the faculty: "I had a lot of really good teachers that really backed me up, making sure I was on the right path and getting all the studying in while balancing school with baseball, and making all the new friends while being so far away from home."
A strong student who made the Dean's List, Justin graduated with a degree in kinesiology and nutrition science. He continued his education at Creighton University, where he earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. He now works for the orthopedic group OrthoArizona.
Watch Justin share his Whittier experience:
