Arts Student of the Week: Shefali Joshi

Shefali Joshi has an earnest curiosity about the world which lights up her face when she talks about her studies and her plans for the future. This curiosity led the Niwot High School sophomore to take an introductory course in Python programming, switch her foreign language requirement from Spanish to French, and take classes in industrial design at The Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools.

It was Joshi's enthusiasm for her studies that led Crystal Hinds, Art Educator at Niwot High School, to nominate her for Arts Student of the Week. "Shefali is a dedicated art student and academic," Hinds said. "In every class, in every project she gives 100% or more. She has taken many classes in the art department and shows the same dedication to her academic studies."

After attending middle school at Twin Peaks Classical Academy in Longmont, Joshi elected to attend NHS rather than Silver Creek High School because of Niwot's IB program. Her core subjects are all honors classes except for her math class, which is AP Calculus. She also has two classes at the Innovation Center and Honors French and art.

The high school provided a much different atmosphere from her middle school experience. "I like it," Joshi said. "It's a lot different from my middle school, which is very small. I like how it's a big school. There's a lot of different people. Everybody I've talked to has been really nice."

Hinds is impressed with the work Joshi has put into her school studies. She said, "Shefali plans to go into animation, and she is enrolled in photography, studio film production, intermediate painting, and design foundations in the coming year, not to mention several programming and computer language courses."

So far, Joshi has enjoyed her time at NHS. "The teachers are really helpful. And we have a lot of free time to do what we want to with our pieces. There aren't a lot of guidelines. We just do what we're comfortable with, which I really like," she said.

As far back as she can remember, Joshi has had an interest in art. "My parents just bought my brother and I a sketchbook and markers and we just started together," Joshi said. "And I've kept on going since then."

Although her twin brother did not express an ongoing interest in art, Joshi's mother encouraged her daughter to continue. "My mom is the first person who taught me how to draw flowers. I still paint and draw a lot of flowers. And my aunt is also really good. She makes garlands out of flowers, and they really look pretty. Those two probably are like the most influential," Joshi said.

Currently she is painting with acrylics. "I like painting because I love color and how it just feels a lot better to me than color with markers, or color pencils, and I just love how it goes on paper." She also sketches, with charcoal and just pencil, scenes, flowers and people. Though she sometimes works outside, many of the images she creates come from her imagination, or from photographs she has taken.

At the Innovation Center, Joshi is taking a class in industrial design and she is currently working on a group project for a design competition for Michelin. "Shefali has shown kindness with her peers," Hinds said, "and participates in critiques and discussions to further peer benefits of a studio environment."

Joshi hopes to study architecture or industrial design. "That's what I'm thinking of right now. But I would love to do something with art." As an architect, she would like to design houses. "Something that's really into...nature, though. Not super blocky like they are now, I guess. Something more natural."

For now, Joshi's hobbies and interests include swimming and skiing in the winter. She also loves to read. Although she doesn't have a favorite author, Joshi has enjoyed many of the books she has read for school, including To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm, and The Book Thief.