The Little Beautiful Moments that Make Real Life

One of my favorite memories from Real Life happened during an ordinary afternoon at one of our afterschool sites.

I was supporting one of our interns as she led her students to decorate food boxes for the Utah Food Bank. It was a simple service activity. One student, however, had been having a rough week. She hadn't been active or participated much in our lessons. But when she learned we were decorating boxes for the Utah Food Bank, her face lit up. I spoke with her and learned that her family had received food from the food bank before, and she was excited to have the opportunity to draw hearts on the boxes for other families that might receive them. The activity meant something to her. She knew what it felt like to receive help, and now she had the opportunity to be on the giving end of that kindness. Watching her energy change warmed my heart.

I think about that moment because it reminds me of what Real Life is really about. We spend so much time thinking about the lessons we teach and the skills we hope our students will develop. Those things matter. But sometimes, the most meaningful learning happens in the moments we couldn't have planned for. Someone who has received kindness realizes they have something meaningful to offer in return.

And often, our interns are the ones creating the space for these moments to happen. Our interns are the leaders on the ground, showing up week after week to build relationships, guide activities, support volunteers, and get to know the young people in their care. They bring their own personalities, creativity, patience, and hearts to each site. Their work is not always easy, and its impact is not always immediately visible. Building trust takes time. Helping a student feel comfortable enough to participate may take weeks or months. Sometimes, leadership looks like guiding a room full of energetic children through an activity. Other times, it looks like noticing the one student sitting quietly at the edge of the room and making sure they know there is a place for them, too. This is the kind of leadership that makes Real Life what it is.

Through their everyday actions, they make Real Life a place where students can feel safe, build friendships, discover their strengths, and experience belonging. They bring our mission to life. We are fortunate to have an incredible cohort of interns this year, each bringing something unique to our community. I hope you'll take a moment to meet the Real Life team here: https://www.reallifeut.org/real-life-team

We may never fully know the impact of every afternoon we spend together. But through the dedication of our interns, volunteers, and community partners, we can keep creating spaces where people feel like belong and discover the kindness in themselves that they can share with someone else.

Because at the heart of what we do in Real Life is we hope every student walks away knowing I matter to somebody. And I have something beautiful to offer.