Volunteers of the Month – October 2025
Priyal Upadhyaya
What motivated you to start volunteering at School on Wheels?
Moving to Los Angeles was a big shift in my life. Starting from scratch, I was looking for something to ground me. Having previously worked in the education transformation space, School on Wheels felt like the perfect place to stay connected to both teaching and the impact of education.
What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
Patience and consistency are key. It takes time to find the right match, build a meaningful connection with a student, and eventually see shifts in outcomes. Trust the process and stay committed.
What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
My coordinator, Tess, has been my biggest support system. She has created a safe space where volunteers can share concerns, seek guidance, and brainstorm solutions. Knowing I have that kind of support keeps me motivated through challenges.
What have you learned from your student?
The greatest lesson I’ve learned from Melanie is the “ability to smile even on the hardest days.” No matter what she’s going through, she shows up with a smile—and it fills me with fresh energy and motivation every single time.
Dylan Senke
What motivated you to start volunteering at School on Wheels?
I wanted to help students succeed and feel supported, knowing even small efforts can make a big difference in their lives
What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. The School on Wheels team is wonderful and always there to support you!
What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
Seeing Joshua’s progress inspires me to overcome any challenges—it’s motivating to watch his growth and know I’m making a difference.
What have you learned from your student?
I’ve learned patience, resilience, and the joy of seeing small steps turn into big progress through my student’s journey.
Vanessa Barrios
What motivated you to start volunteering at School on Wheels?
I wanted to give back to my community. I grew up in a low-income and underprivileged community when I was younger, and I feel as though I could have taken advantage of an opportunity like School on Wheels. However, my family was not informed of such opportunities. However, now that I am older and have gotten through those challenges on my own, I want to give back and volunteer for others.
What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
I would advise a new volunteer that being flexible is the best way to go. I would further advise remembering that these children are going through challenges and that their families are experiencing certain circumstances. Sometimes, these challenges and circumstances mean that they will forget sessions. The last thing the student and their family needs is someone being overly insistent. Instead, try extra compassion
What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
The end result of the students being able to gain confidence in themselves and seeing that they can do it inspires me. They are begging to know that it is okay if they make a mistake, and understanding that it is a part of academics, and knowing that mistakes are meant to be learned from. Seeing them get to this point inspires me to continue.
What have you learned from your student?
Staying positive despite the challenges being faced.
Malachi Arp
What motivated you to start volunteering at School on Wheels?
What motivated me to start volunteering at School on Wheels was my passion for teaching, combined with my desire to help address educational gaps that children were facing in my community.
What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
My advice for new tutors is not to be discouraged if it takes time to make progress with a student. This doesn’t necessarily reflect on your abilities as a tutor, it’s just that like any relationship, it can take time for trust to build. Enjoy the small victories along the way and trust that even when it seems like you haven’t made progress, just being a constant presence in a student’s life is a great thing.
What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
I’m inspired to overcome any challenge with tutoring because of my student, E. Seeing his progress and potential encourages me to continue working with him no matter what challenges come our way.
What have you learned from your student?
I have learned how to adapt and be flexible to accommodate my student. There were days when E did not want to do certain activities I had planned, so I came up with new ones on the spot or had a backup plan prepared.