Finishing a college degree is hard. It’s an endurance race: It takes determination to keep going, and a belief that it will all be worth it in the end.

Paul Carr, 47, and his son, Qayyim, 25, stopped pursuing their college degrees for decidedly different reasons. One is more convinced than the other on the need to go back and finish. They explain more in this interview.

Of the hundreds of laws signed and initiatives overseen by Gov. Gavin Newsom while in office, the California College Corps is the one that stands out for him.

The state program, which began this year, selects low-income college students to complete community service in exchange for $10,000 to spend on tuition and living expenses. The aim is to help students reduce their debt, while empowering civic action and addressing problems in the state, including education gaps, food insecurity, and climate change.