Coming to CPHS halfway through her freshman year, senior Arina Gart came prepared to succeed. With a passion for art, and a love for helping others, Gart was ready to say yes to any opportunity that came her way.

As an active student in both extracurriculars and academics, Gart participated in three honor societies and three clubs, as well as Health Occupations Students of America, otherwise known as HOSA, the future health professionals program. 

As secretary of Art Club and Art Honor Society, Gart helps lead both organizations in activities such as visits to the middle school art program and club projects.

“Going to see the kids at the middle school is one of my favorite things we’ve done as a club,” Gart said. “We played games with the kids like we do at club meetings normally. We passed around a paper and had the kids draw little figures so when the paper unfolded it showed all their different art styles and it was so cute.”

Gart decided to take AP 2D Art and Design after taking AP Photography last year. Every student enrolled in this course has to prepare a portfolio to submit for the AP test with a specific theme that the art pieces communicate. When creating the art pieces for her portfolio, Gart chose to use marker, pen and sharpie.

“I did my portfolio over a jellyfish because they don’t have brains,” Gart said. “The storyline was that the jellyfish gains self awareness when he goes out into the civilized world and on to college after living in the ocean formerly, and my selected pieces show that process.”

In addition to her love for her art, Gart has a passion for community service. The Her Drive is a donation program based out of Atlanta, Georgia, and Gart runs a branch in Cedar Park alongside a couple of her friends from other schools. All donations go directly to approved women’s shelters in the Austin area. Those running a branch create many donation boxes and place them in locations they know people will see.

“Once I had created donation boxes, I placed them in locations they can easily be seen and created flyers with lists of items that were needed,” Gart said. “I sent that information out to other clubs and made it a community service hour opportunity. Once they fill up we bring them to the women’s shelters. It is a very fulfilling experience; we got to know and talk to a lot of people, and it really broadens your empathy. This community service project really solidified my choice in wanting to go into the medical field to help people.”

Tying in with the inspiration for helping others Gart felt within her humanitarian work, her participation in HOSA also drove her to pursue a career in medical work.

“I’ve wanted to be in the medical field for forever,” Gart said. “But this year, since I was in practicum, I got a lot more experience. We also participated in the Medical Reserve Corps, so we partnered with them and we made first-aid kits for the visually impaired, and that experience made me realize it was something I really wanted to do in the future.”

In the coming fall, Gart has decided to attend Texas State, majoring in nursing. She also plans on continuing her study of art independently as well as continuing her work with Her Drive.

“I’m really excited to leave home and become more independent and self-sustaining,” Gart said. “I hope I can leave a legacy and impact people’s lives once I join the medical field. I’m going to miss seeing my friends, boyfriend, and favorite teachers everyday.”