Heart and Hustle: Rhea Govindaraj

Visionary, Doer, and Altruist // Supporting all those around her and making strides in and outside of school, meet Rhea Govindaraj. This is a student who doesn’t just put her 100% into every assignment, but also 100% into being a leader for both her school and her community, and she doesn’t stop working hard until the job is done. (Photo by Jenai Atherall)

One of the greatest parts about growing up is discovering who it is that you are. Some learn that they are driven or dedicated, some learn that they care about serving others, and some learn that they are a mix of all three. Rhea Govindaraj, not only defined around school by her accomplishments alone, but also by her character as someone who has discovered what it means to be a driven, dedicated, and big-hearted individual.

Senior Rhea Govindaraj is the epitome of a well-rounded student, one who is in fact ranked at the top of her class out of 786 students. More than that, she is also the definition of a person with strong principles. Whether seen by her teachers as a student who goes above and beyond with her 4.95 weighted GPA, or seen by her peers as a leader in countless clubs, or seen by her community as a light who serves all those around her, one thing is for sure: she brings the best of herself to every room she walks into every single day. 

Given her high GPA and ranking, there is no doubt that Govindaraj is intelligent, but more than that, she consistently shows up as a hard-working person in everything she sets her mind to. Every single day, she shows up as a stronger student, and that drive that she has built over time to finish what it is that she starts is what continues to carry her up the ladder of academic excellence. 

“What I’ve learned most is consistency. There were weeks when I had AP exams, orchestra rehearsals, and leadership meetings all at once,” Govindaraj explained. “I learned how to structure my time and not panic. Being at the top of my class is about showing up every day and doing the work, even when it’s tiring.”

By making the most of the time she has, from extracurricular activities to her rigorous classes, she has learned how to properly manage all the tasks she is given. She has met the mark not by overperforming in one area and underperforming in the other, but by maintaining balance on a daily basis. That dedication to what she does over a long period of time is what has built a work ethic within her that has translated beautifully into everything she commits herself to doing. In addition, making time for the things in her life that make her happy and making time for breaks to avoid academic burnout have allowed an open door for her to continue to excel in this area. 

“There were weeks where everything felt overwhelming with tests and responsibilities. I’d always wonder how I was going to get through it all,” Govindaraj explained. “But you do. You take it one step at a time. And somehow it works out. It’s okay if you don’t have everything figured out. It’s okay if something feels like a lot. Trust yourself. Ask for help when you need it. And don’t get so caught up chasing achievements that you forget to enjoy the people and the little moments in between.”

Beyond her academic accomplishments, another large part of Rhea Govindaraj’s high school career was her involvement in extracurriculars. Throughout her time at Coronado, Govindaraj has chosen to participate in DECA, Chamber Orchestra, All-State Orchestra, American Legion Auxiliary Nevada Girls State, UNICEF, American Cancer Society, National Honor Society, and even was the Blood Cancer United Co-Candidate for the Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign. Throughout all of these extracurricular activities, she has demonstrated her personal values as well as her love for others. Not only has she dedicated time to supporting the arts through things like Orchestra for her own school, as well as representing Coronado through clubs like DECA, but she has also been a powerhouse outside of school by serving people everywhere, from public policy meetings to hospitals. Within these extracurriculars, she has additionally worked hard to not just participate in them, but also gain leadership skills and roles during her time in them. 

“I’m currently DECA President, and before that I was VP of Finance and VP of Career Development,” Govindaraj explained. “I’ve also been Treasurer and Secretary for American Cancer Society, Vice President of Leadership for UNICEF, Historian for Orchestra Council and the Social Media Representative for NHS. I also served as both a Senator and later a Counselor at Nevada Girls State.”

One thing to note however, was that all of these accomplishments were not without hard work nor were they without challenges. Having a lot of pressure to be perfect and represent her school well due to her deep care and commitment to others put a lot of stress on Rhea’s plate. Not to mention, trying to take on the responsibility of very large leadership roles was scary at first, and according to Govindaraj, were roles she didn’t necessarily feel ready for at the time. However, despite the challenges, she did not let them overcome her; instead she overcame them. Govindaraj learned through both the highs and lows. In everything from reaching high points of solving real-world problems through Nevada Girls State and performing with Orchestra as principal chair at Carnegie Hall to taking things like stress and letting it teach her to try things even when you’re scared and not trying to do everything yourself, rather, leaning on the community you are surrounded by and blessed with for a larger purpose that will always be bigger than yourself. 

“Competing in DECA the first time was scary,” Govindaraj said. “Speaking in front of people at Girls State was scary. Putting your all into something that isn’t guaranteed to work out can feel vulnerable. You might lose. You might mess up. But I’ve learned that it’s always worth it. Even if things don’t go perfectly, at least you tried, and that’s usually where you discover what you actually care about. Every time I stepped into something uncertain, I found a new part of myself.”

Through making time for her academics, extracurriculars, and accomplishments, there is one thing that Govindaraj has never forgotten about, and that is her community. With a schedule like Rhea’s, there isn’t a whole lot of time you can treat with little value. Every moment counts on her day-to-day checklist, and therefore, every moment is with intention. Everything she commits to learning in school, every extracurricular she is in, is for a greater purpose than herself. She strives to work hard in school so that she can be a knowledgeable and helpful individual when she enters the workforce. She strives for leadership opportunities to help her peers, and she seeks to build a resume built on service through all of her achievements to accomplish the greatest thing of all, which is to serve others. Whether she’s doing it in school or outside of it, every moment she takes in her busy life points back to her heart for others. 

“Volunteering in the emergency room has been the most grounding experience for me,” Govindaraj explained. “I’ve helped check patients in, observed vitals being recorded, and handed out comfort items from the care cart. One time, I gave a patient a small notebook because she said she was anxious waiting for results. She started writing to distract herself. That moment reminded me that changing someone's day can sometimes mean being present and steady when someone feels uncertain.”

By actively participating in the countless things she has done during high school, she has learned lessons that she will take with her in addition to every accomplishment when she walks through the doors of Coronado for the last time. On the other side of high school, Govindaraj has big plans for where she sees herself in the next few years of university and beyond. 

“I plan to study economics, psychology, or business in undergrad because I’m fascinated by how people make decisions financially, socially, and politically,” Govindaraj said. “I think understanding behavior and systems is essential before studying law. My goal is to attend law school. Experiences like Girls State and competitive DECA roleplays showed me that I’m comfortable thinking quickly and defending ideas under pressure. In five years, I see myself either in law school or preparing to enter it.”

In everything she has accomplished and everything she has overcome, Rhea Govindaraj never took a day off from being at the heart of what it means to be a Coronado Cougar. Not only has she represented the qualities of hard work, service, leadership, and more while being a special part of our community, but she has also been committed to doing good outside of school and in the Henderson community. No matter where her path leads on the other side of these walls, there is no doubt that her dedication to working hard and loving people is a part of her that she has poured into, and one that will never fade.