Photo: Chris Delmas

Yalda Azamee blinked back tears as she stared down at the American consular officer. It was the second time her application for a U.S. student visa had been rejected.

She's far from alone. In this interview, students trying to attend university in the United States tell of their frustration after being rejected over the ‘immigrant intent’ test.

Federal student loan forgiveness may be (mostly) off the table, but health-care workers in Massachusetts are getting help paying their student loans. 

The "MA Repay Program" is awarding more than $140 million in student loan repayments to nearly 3,000 primary care and behavioral health providers. Repayment awards range from $12,500 to $300,000. About half the recipients are people of color and 70 percent are women, program officials say.

Life changed for Miles Clements after his parents divorced and his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. But thanks to a caring high school teacher, Clements began to take his learning seriously again.

Clements is now a junior at the University of Indianapolis, preparing to become a teacher himself. At a time when many experienced teachers are leaving the profession, aspiring educators like Clements are motivated by the opportunities to shape young people’s lives and undaunted by the challenges.