Jehan Godrej ’19 is graduating from Whittier College with a much deeper understanding of how to help the planet he cares very much about.
Godrej, an environmental studies major with a love for travel, journeyed to Myanmar with a class for a short-term study abroad trip. In one of the most species-rich countries on Earth, he explored forests, jungles, temples, and towns, fascinated by the complex connections between the abundant nature around him and the people sharing space with it. As Godrej puts it, the two-week adventure was “a dream come true.”
Back on campus, Godrej applied his sharpening, critical mind to a local issue: analyzing recycling at the College and how it can grow. Channeling his curiosity and passion for the environment through the investigational skills the College trained him in, Godrej presented his findings and ideas for future growth in an impressive final presentation at an on-campus research conference.
“Whittier has given me all the tools to be successful, and has made me a confident problem-solver,” Godrej said. “I'm grateful for everything my professors and mentors here at Whittier have taught me; without them I would not be in the same place.”
He’s also grateful for the relationships he found in the men’s tennis team. Besides community, the team has taught him how to be more perceptive, resourceful, and independent, as well as how to successfully balance his schoolwork, nutrition, social life, and performance on the courts.
After he graduates, Godrej plans to pursue a job in environmental policy, environmental journalism, or something that offers him a combination of the two. In the meantime, he and friends are working on a company they started last year to create a website that helps student-athletes maintain good mental health and nutrition.
“Whittier has definitely widened my scope, and increased my understanding on many critical issues we face in our world today, whist providing me with the solutions and education to combat these dilemmas,” Godrej said. “I have without a doubt learned how important it is to stand for what you believe in and fight for your dreams. I have also discovered that my voice does matter, and even something small and simple can make a difference in people's everyday lives.”
