After spending four fruitful years in the Jewel of the Prairie, Grinnell graduates find themselves in various parts of the world, putting the education that they received at the College to good use.
Dhruv Mather Gupta ’17 is in Delhi, India, working as a research assistant for the Brookings Institute. He described his transition from Grinnell to his job as being “pretty solid.”
“The 9-5 life is not mind numbingly boring if you are in a job that stimulates you daily,” he wrote in a message to The S&B. “I am excited for the research we are conducting. At Brookings I have access to government, and government data well out of bounds for the normal citizen. I think this environment will allow me to make big discoveries and develop intellectual products that assist in [India’s] development.”
While he is happy he graduated, he admitted to missing the people and community of Grinnell. “I miss having 1,200 hormonal, intelligent young adults in a four block radius,” wrote Gupta.
Another graduate, Matthew Regis McCarthy ’17, is in D.C., reminiscing about his life in college with his housemate, Jack Thornton ’17.
“I’ll probably come back for a reunion or two,” wrote McCarthy in a message to The S&B when asked about the prospects of him visiting Grinnell. “It’s a little too soon to miss Grinnell, but I do miss my underclass friends. I miss the academic environment.”
His transition from college was fairly smooth.
“I’ve no complaints,” he wrote. “The most difficult part is transitioning away from the support structure at Grinnell.”
He is looking forward to a calligraphy class that he will start taking next week.
Sophie Donlon ’16 moved from the familiar city of New York to Seattle after graduating and has lived there for almost a year now.
After graduating, she has immersed herself in the film industry.
“I’m working now at northwest Film Forum as the festival director of their annual Local Sightings Film Festival,” wrote Donlon in a message to The S&B. “After Local Sightings is over, I’ll be working on other film festivals in Seattle, including the Children’s Film Festival, which has screenings globally.”
Her transition from college was not the easiest but she said that she was fortunate to find the work that she has now.
“I was able to find work I really enjoy fairly quickly, and I’m fortunate enough to be working at an organization that trusts me and has given me a lot of responsibilities even though I’m so young.”
She is putting the education she received at the College to good use.
“I learned so much there, and I’m glad I could take those skills and apply them to a [life] outside of college,” she wrote. “I don’t really know what to expect from the future, but I’m excited to find out what it brings!”