JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select id="platypusDropDown">
    <option value="duckbill">duckbill</option>
    <option value="duckbillPlatypus">duckbillPlatypus</option>
    <option value="Platypus">Platypus</option>
    <option value="Platypi">Platypi</option>
</select>

JavaScript

$('#platypusDropDown').change(function () {
    var selection = this.value; //grab the value selected
   alert(selection);
});