Tanvi Herwadkar, an art student at San Mateo High School is set to graduate this year. Tanvi has been doing art since the age of three and started to do graphic design in 8th grade and continues to do graphic design currently. Tanvi was originally slated to attend Hillsdale High School, but applied to transfer to both San Mateo High School and Dtech, and she decided to attend San Mateo High School for its reputation in its arts program and Biotech program.
Tanvi’s continuation in art and graphic design is credited to the Art Certificate Program that San Mateo offers. The Art Certificate Program “kind of kept me motivated, if you have to make something every six weeks, then you have to keep up with your skill, then you have to keep up with everything.”
Though Tanvi has done art all four years, she is not planning to major in art, but in computer science at UCSC instead. “A lot of people have told me that I can go from computer science to art because you know, UX and UI-I’m not super sold on that, if I were to do something maybe I’d end up doing special effects for movies but I’m leaning more towards the bio side of computer science.”
Some advice that Tanvi offers is one of encouragement towards the students of San Mateo High School. “Take an art class, also-get to know your teachers, they’re great people, and like most of the teachers here are like, really passionate, and they’re so much fun to get to know-and if you get to know them then they’ll like you and you’ll enjoy their class more.”
“I think the thing that stands out about Tanvi the most is that she’s incurably positive and cheerful.” Mr. Pirie reflects. Though Tanvi is planning on going to school for computer science, she does offer one last piece of insight for the underclassmen artists of San Mateo High School: “There’s a thing people say, where it’s like your tastes develop faster than your talent, so if you start judging your art based on what you think it should look like or comparing yourself to other people, it’s going to be a lot harder to stay motivated, so just kind of, trust the process. Everyone says it but it does end up being really worth it.” With her bright, infectious energy, and her artistic contributions, San Mateo High School will have to bid farewell to someone who truly does care about her craft and her school.