.png)
Meet the Real Life Team
Melissa Pearson
Real Life Director
Hay Soe
Real Life Associate Director
Elizabeth Divis
Real Life Associate Director
Real Life Interns
Annie Lee
Sunnyvale Neighborhood Center 4th-5th
Volunteer work has always been an integral part in Annie's life, having volunteered in many different organizations such as the Humane Society taking care of animals looking for forever homes, South Jordan Youth City Council running events for children in the city, Primary Children's Hospital creating safe spaces for kids, the English Skills Learning Center teaching English to immigrants, and more. She is excited to now be a part of the Real Life family and make a positive impact on the community here. Experiences from teaching martial arts made her realize that nothing beats the satisfaction of watching confidence grow as things clicked in the student's minds, and drove her passion to adjacent meaningful endeavors. She hopes that her contributions to Real Life furthers their mission of providing meaningful opportunities for the youth. Annie graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor's Degree from the School of Business.
Ashmita Karki
Lincoln Elementary
My name is Ashmita Karki, and I’m currently studying at the University of Utah while pursuing a career in medicine. I am passionate about learning, helping others, and exploring new experiences. I love to travel, recently I visited Puerto Rico and Hawaii which gave me the chance to enjoy nature and learn about new cultures. One thing about me is that you’ll almost always see me with some kind of drink in hand, which is why I’ve been exploring new cafés around Utah to try their drinks and find my favorites. My cultural background is Nepali, and I can fluently speak both Nepali and English. As a mentor, my goal is to create a positive and supportive environment where students feel encouraged and excited to grow. I look forward to getting to know each student and building meaningful connections this year.
Chaithra Duggineni
Lincoln Elementary
Chaithra is a sophomore at the University of Utah, majoring in Health, Societies, and Policy with minors in Psychology, Chemistry, and Health. She is deeply interested in the intersections of health, community, and education. Her leadership experience includes serving as a former state officer for HOSA–Future Health Professionals, teaching through a small organization called TrySci, and volunteering at her local hospital’s NICU department. These opportunities have allowed her to develop strong skills in communication, mentorship, and collaboration, while also exposing her to the importance of accessible healthcare and education especially to youth.
Through her experiences in both healthcare and youth-centered programs, Chaithra has discovered her passion for supporting and empowering young people. She enjoys creating environments where youth feel encouraged to explore their interests, develop confidence, and pursue their goals. Looking ahead, she hopes to integrate her academic background with her service experience to advocate for healthier, more equitable communities and to continue inspiring the next generation of innovators.
Eh Tha Blay Htoo
Historic Scott School K-2nd
Eh Tha Blay Htoo grew up in a refugee camp on the border of Thailand and Myanmar, where access to education was limited and poverty was part of daily life. Most of her family never made it past elementary school. After earning an associate’s degree from Salt Lake Community College, she transferred to Westminster University. As a first-generation college student, she is committed to increasing diversity in higher education. Eh Tha Blay plans to become a Physician Assistant specializing in neurological disabilities, serving underrepresented communities and advocating for those whose voices often go unheard. She’s excited to be a part of Real Life because she got assistance from after-school program at a local community center as a kid and would love to give back to the community.
.png)
Kaia Foreman
Woodrow Wilson Elementary 3rd-5th
Kaia is a recent graduate from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Social Science in Criminology, a field that explores sociology, psychology, and human interaction. She was drawn to this area of study because both her professional and personal goals center on making a difference for underrepresented communities and youth.
Kaia’s first leadership role was in 2021, with her involvement as a mountain bike team captain where she organized events, mentored teammates, and led local trail service projects. She was also an active member of GRIT (Girls Riding Together), an initiative encouraging young girls to get involved in biking — an experience that inspired her passion for youth engagement.
She is eager to use her degree and experience to advocate for and support the communities she has the privilege of working with and is so excited to be joining the Youthlinc team.
In her free time, you can find Kaia spending time with her dog, doing pottery, or enjoying the outdoors — whether that’s mountain biking, snowboarding, hiking or river rafting.
Krista Hamilton
Olene Walker Elementary K-2nd
Krista is a fifth-year Honors Psychology student at the University of Utah. She is also minoring in Chemistry, Anthropology, and Integrated Health Biology. Krista is on a Pre-Medical path with the hopes of being accepted into an MD/PhD program for neurosciences. Outside of school, she loves traveling and spending time with her two dogs, Wall-E and Eva (yes, like the Pixar movie). She is passionate about working with her community and motivated by her excitement to teach and empower the new generations. She is excited to continue her journey with Real Life and Olene Walker.
.jpg)
Maryn Stone
James E. Moss K-2nd
Maryn is a junior at the University of Utah studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. She is passionate about community work and has volunteered with children’s art programs, IRC New Roots, and other local organizations in Salt Lake City. Alongside her studies, she has been teaching swim lessons for the past year and has enjoyed seeing her students grow and achieve new goals.
This year, Maryn has expanded her perspective through study abroad opportunities in Oxford and Fiji, where she explored the intersections of human rights, natural resources, and sustainability. She is excited to continue building connections across communities while deepening her understanding of environmental and social issues, and hopes to pursue further education in environmental law or policy after graduating.
In her free time, Maryn enjoys drawing, playing water polo, and spending time with her cat Frankie.
Ryann Anderson
Sunnyvale Neighborhood Center - Teens
Ryann Anderson is extremely excited to be an intern for Sunnyvale Teens. She has participated in Youthlinc’s Service Year program for four years and is currently serving her second year as an Assistant Team Leader. This is also her second year as a Real Life intern. Ryann is attending Salt Lake Community College, where she is majoring in Social Work and minoring in Spanish. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, making art, and spending time with friends and family.
Sanjula Sunil
William Penn Elementary 3rd - 5th
Sanjula Sunil will begin their journey with Youthlinc in October 2025. They are currently a first-year student at the University of Utah, pursuing a degree in Finance. With a strong background in education, Sanjula has worked as a Math & Science Tutor and as a Teacher Assistant at Juan Diego Catholic High School, where they developed personalized lesson plans, supported students in mastering course material, and fostered academic growth through mentorship.
Passionate about learning and connection, Sanjula is excited to bring their skills and energy into service. They are particularly drawn to opportunities that create meaningful impact and allow them to engage with new communities. Outside of academics and service, Sanjula loves traveling and exploring new cultures, always eager to discover new perspectives around the world.
Shako Haziza
James E. Moss Elementary 3rd-5th
Shalom Shako is a student at Utah State University, studying Human Development and Family Studies. She wants to become a Child Life Specialist. Shalom is a Paraprofessional and often stays after school to help students with homework. Since she was young she has cared for children by babysitting and giving parents a break when needed. She is passionate about working with youth because she loves seeing them grow and gain confidence . She wants youth to know that someone cares about them and believes in them. Shalom enjoys listening to music, and podcasts, watching movies and documentaries, and hanging out with her friends.
Siena Hanson
Olympus High School
Siena Hanson is a junior at the University of Utah majoring in Psychology and Criminology. She is passionate about working with people, especially kids, and loves bringing joy to their everyday lives. Outside of school, Siena enjoys spending time outdoors, being with friends, and listening to good music. She is excited to learn from each person she meets this year and looks forward to both teaching and growing alongside them.
Suzie Park
Sunnyvale Neighborhood Center 1st-3rd
Suzie's journey in service and humanitarian work began on the mats of her Taekwondo studio, where she taught children self-defense, and has since expanded through Youthlinc and numerous other programs. Her passion for volunteering continued through her involvement with a Korean school program, University of Utah clubs, Primary Children’s Hospital, and local after-school programs. In June, she joined Youthlinc’s humanitarian trip to Fiji, an experience she describes as eye-opening and inspiring that deepened her commitment to service.
Suzie currently works as a Medical Assistant at a pediatric clinic, where she helps children live healthier lives while supporting and educating their parents. She also continues to volunteer at Primary Children’s Hospital and be fully present in every moment by creating comfort, fun, and connection for young patients and families.
Suzie recently earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and aspires to become a physician. She believes that the most meaningful part of life lies in building genuine connections. Whether it is with patients, students, colleagues, or community members alike, she strives to create meaningful relationships with those around her. Outside of her work and volunteer service, Suzie enjoys baking, spontaneous dance parties, fishing, and paddle boarding.
Maryssa McNamara
William Penn Elementary K - 2nd
Much of Maryssa's life revolves around her commitment to service. She works for Utah's Service Commission as an AmeriCorps Program Coordinator, is on her second year supporting the Real Life Program, and spends some of her evenings volunteering as a Duty Officer for the Red Cross. In her free time, Maryssa can be found entertaining her cats or exploring Salt Lake.