Rethinking the rejection letter

After getting rejected from the six elite colleges she applied to, Stella Lau felt like an utter disappointment. But after talking with family, friends, and teachers, she realized that she doesn’t have to follow the traditional college path. “The possibilities are overwhelming, but also exciting.” Read more at Youth Radio.

‘Senioritis’ and the long road to graduation

Where does your motivation come from? For one Richmond teen, the push he felt from his parents and teachers to do well in high school wasn’t enough, and he had to look within for the drive to succeed. “I realize that at times like these, when I’m disappointed and just want to quit, I have […]

My mom, the college student

A teen whose mother is attending college reflects on how her own journey is impacted and inspired by her mother’s. “Being students at the same time gave us a common goal. My mom and I became each other’s dedicated cheerleaders.” Listen to the full story at Youth Radio.

As more Latino students get into college, parents prevent some from leaving the nest

Leaving for college is a rite of passage. Some Latino students feel pressure from their parents to stay close to home and pass up opportunities to attend college somewhere far away. “My parents believe that because I’m a female, I’m more ‘fragile’ and should therefore stay close to home.” Read more at Boyle Heights Beat.

How do we protect youth from homelessness?

Young adults seeking public housing? Good luck. Youth reporter Kasey Saeturn examines the growing population of homeless youth in San Francisco, where as many as 1,600 young adults are without a home on any given night. Skyrocketing rental prices in major cities has led non-profit organizations to start building housing for homeless youth who might otherwise fall through […]

Get DACA, pursue your dream job

Adriana Meza feared she wouldn’t be able to graduate college and pursue a teaching career in the United States. As an undocumented student, she lacked a social security number — required to declare her college major and pass a background check to work with children. She set out to get “DACAmented.” “Once Meza got DACA, her college career took off. She […]

What college students want: the ‘safe space’ debate on campus

Are colleges doing enough to ensure equity, diversity, and safety for all students? Students from different colleges comment on different forms of racism or racial tension on campuses. “What does a safe space mean exactly? It’s hard to pinpoint. But you know when you’re not in one.” That story aired on NPR, from Youth Radio.

Racial justice on campus

In the wake of protests at college campuses across the country—where students are demanding changes to the ways that schools approach racial diversity—Youth Radio alumni shared their stories about race and campus life. “I haven’t experienced racism but I have experienced racial discomfort… It’s weird to be the only person of color in the room because you […]

High school students have financial options for college

Financial aid plays a key role for prospective college students, especially in communities such as Boyle Heights where many families are low income. But many students and their parents don’t know there is federal and state aid available. One Boyle Heights native, who attended college before the California Dream Act made state financial aid available to undocumented […]

Council votes to include all Richmond students in tuition aid program

All college-bound seniors who live in Richmond became eligible for the city’s scholarship program when the city council voted to extend eligibility to students in private and charter schools, as well those in county public schools. The program, funded by oil giant Chevron, promises $1,500 a year in tuition assistance for community college or four-year university students. “A lot of students don’t have computers or […]