Lessons Beyond Numbers: Krishnapriya’s Journey of Learning and Impact
eVidyaloka|December 2025
eVidyaloka|December 2025
“Volunteering not only gave me the satisfaction of helping others but also shaped my own skills, patience, and outlook on education.” For Krishnapriya Mannepalli, teaching math online to students at a rural government school in Telangana has been a deeply rewarding and humbling experience.
When she first started teaching students in grades 6 and 7, she understood that the challenge extended beyond explaining formulas or equations in a virtual setting. She elaborates, “It was about bridging gaps – in resources, confidence, and exposure. I wanted to keep the subject alive and exciting for students who had limited access to technology and quality learning materials.”
Krishnapriya soon realized that conventional teaching approaches were not as effective in a virtual classroom. She notes, “The innovative methods I adopted were born out of necessity, but they created a lively learning environment. I began using storytelling and relatable real-life examples to explain mathematical ideas. With small puzzles, I try to encourage them to think outside the box.”
While teaching fractions, she used everyday examples such as sharing rotis within a family or dividing a birthday cake, which brought smiles to many students’ faces. Visualizing a roti cut into two halves or four quarters felt easier to understand than looking at abstract shapes on a screen. Similarly, when explaining percentages, she drew on familiar experiences from local markets, such as discounts on vegetables or profits from selling mangoes during the summer.
Games and quizzes also played an important role in her teaching. By using free online tools, she designed short problem-solving competitions where students earned points for correct answers. At times, she would begin the class with a puzzle or riddle, sparking curiosity and keeping students engaged until everyone solved it together at the end.
She recalls, “One unforgettable moment was when a girl in grade 6, usually quiet, solved a challenging problem before anyone else. She smiled shyly when everyone in the class applauded. That day, she volunteered to explain her steps to the class, and from then on, she became one of the most active participants. Every smile after solving a tough problem, every moment of “Oh, now I get it!” from a student, these are the true rewards of this journey.”
This experience has been deeply transformative for Krishnapriya as her students taught her valuable lessons in patience, empathy, and adaptability. She reflects, “I learned to repeat explanations without frustration, slow down when needed, and celebrate small victories, like when a student who once feared long division solved it without hesitation. Volunteering also strengthened my communication skills. I had to avoid using jargon and speak in a bilingual mode to ensure every child followed along. This has improved my own understanding of the subject as well.”
The impact of volunteering is not always immediate or measurable, but it is deeply lasting. It is reflected in students’ growing confidence, their enthusiastic participation in class, and the joy that comes with genuine understanding. Through her journey, Krishnapriya discovered that education is not about perfect lessons or advanced tools, but about connection, encouragement, and belief. Her empathy and creativity transformed math into a subject students could approach with confidence and excitement.
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