Do What Matters

Born and raised in Arkansas to immigrant parents, master’s student Priya Thelapurath found a second home within the walls of her high school. While her parents worked long hours, Thelapurath spent her time before and after school helping teachers with odd jobs and soaking up their guidance during breaks and holidays. This nurturing environment not only provided her with a safe haven but also laid the foundation for her devotion to education reform.

“I was lucky to have teachers who talked about my potential, who made me see myself in a positive light,” Thelapurath recalls. The strong rapport she built with them shaped how she views education — not just as a means of imparting knowledge but as a way to empower students. Inspired by her own developing sense of self, her supportive teachers became her role models and kindled her passion to meaningfully uplift many more in her community.

In high school, Thelapurath co-founded the nonprofit LOUDwomen Inc. alongside a friend, aided by their teachers. The community club consisting of students from across schools in Arkansas aimed to amplify the voices of young women and rural students through speech and debate, serving as a platform for developing confidence and understanding various perspectives.

“The most difficult challenges arose when we realized how set in stone systemic challenges feel,” she says. “In Arkansas, our work was seen as radical. Parents of the students we engaged with even called it 'too political.’” 

Although she sometimes felt a sense of hopelessness while dealing with systemic challenges, they did not deter her. She leaned on her initial belief and vision to advocate for youth to voice out what they believed in with confidence, empathy, and knowledge instead of blindly resorting to extremities and polarization of their views.

Today, LOUDwomen Inc. boasts a youth debate forum and a self-sufficient structure led by younger generations. “The opportunity for young students from the community to take the reins and lead the organization has ensured its success and sustainability,” Thelapurath notes.

While pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Harvard, she continued to work alongside students in various summer programs, affirming her commitment to youth empowerment. She served as president of the Philips Brooks Association, the largest student-run nonprofit on campus to promote social awareness and community involvement at Harvard University and beyond. "Having worked with [younger] students back home and in the Boston and Cambridge area, I knew that pursuing teaching was the natural next step for me,” she says.

Thelapurath chose the Teaching and Teacher Leadership (TTL) Program to gain hands-on experience in a formal classroom setting and continue exploring her path as a passionate and nurturing educator. “It’s a challenging and busy journey,” she admits, “but the support system at Harvard and within the school keeps me grounded and optimistic.”

As she begins her formal training in the classroom, she is looking to become “a warm demander,” she says, bringing together the care she has for the students and her expectation of excellence from them.

Looking ahead, Thelapurath aspires to continue her advocacy for youth and education reform, prioritizing initiatives that inspire the next generation. By actively listening and adapting, she remains committed to creating a world where every child has the opportunity to realize their potential. Her philosophy is simple yet profound: Do what matters, what feels fulfilling, and what makes a difference.

“Everything I do comes from a deep sense of care and a feeling of genuine fulfillment,” she says.