In a world that moves faster each day, the ability to truly understand another person’s feelings and experiences has become a superpower. And that’s exactly what the students of Maa Anandmayee Memorial School discovered during a transformative session on Empathy Mapping, recently conducted by Dr. Amrita Kumari, Convener at IIC Quantum University.
This session wasn’t just a lecture. It was a journey—one that challenged students to pause, reflect, and see the world through someone else’s eyes.
What is Empathy Mapping?
Empathy Mapping is a powerful tool used in design thinking, innovation, and user experience research. It helps individuals understand a user’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in structured ways. In this session, students explored six key segments:
- What does the user Think & Feel?
- What do they See?
- What do they Hear?
- What do they Say & Do?
- What are their Pains?
- And what are their Gains?
By exploring these areas, students began to grasp how empathy plays a vital role in problem-solving and building human-centered solutions.
Learning Through Real-Life Scenarios
Dr. Kumari introduced real-world situations that students could easily relate to—experiences of peers, family members, and community members. These stories sparked deep discussions and reflections, encouraging students to put themselves in others’ shoes.
Through group activities, students created their empathy maps, identifying emotions, needs, and pain points. They listened to each other with intent and curiosity—something rarely taught in textbooks but crucial for real-world success.
Collaboration, Conversation, and Compassion
What stood out the most was the active engagement. Students weren’t passive listeners—they were collaborators, storytellers, and empathizers. In their small groups, they shared ideas, challenged assumptions, and refined their understanding of others.
The session also fostered emotional intelligence, active listening, and perspective-taking—skills that are essential not only for future careers but for becoming thoughtful, compassionate individuals.
A Step Toward Purpose-Driven Education
Organized under the IIC School Linkages Initiative, this virtual session was a seamless blend of education and personal growth. It reflected IIC Quantum University’s commitment to holistic learning that goes beyond academic excellence.
As Dr. Kumari rightly highlighted during the session,
“Empathy is not just a skill—it’s the heart of design thinking, leadership, and positive change.”
Student Voices
Here’s what some of the students had to say:
🗣 “I never thought about what someone is thinking and feeling in this way. It opened my eyes.”
🗣 “Now I understand why empathy is so important in solving real problems.”
🗣 “Creating an empathy map helped me understand my own emotions, too.”
Final Thoughts
This empathy mapping session wasn’t just a class—it was a mindset shift. It showed students the value of human connection, the art of deep listening, and the impact of understanding others with compassion.
As we aim to shape the next generation of thinkers, leaders, and changemakers, sessions like these remind us: empathy is where it all begins.
