“People need to see what risk we’re willing to take.”

Jonathan Perez

East Los Angeles College

In this episode, we hear from Jonathan Perez, a student at East Los Angeles College who came to the United States at age 3 and now employs civil disobedience and other forms of activism to try to empower fellow undocumented immigrants.

About this series: Say Something collects stories from college students about what they’re up to and why. Check for new episodes every two weeks during the summer. View more episodes.

Photo: Pocho-1 Music: Theme courtesy of John Gravois

“I’m a girl. I’m very picky when it comes to what pictures I like.”

Bethany Humenik

Neumann University

In this episode, we hear from Bethany Humenik, who tells us about representing Neumann University in its advertising campaign.

About this series: Say Something collects stories from college students about what they’re up to and why. Check for new episodes every two weeks during the summer. View more episodes.

Photo: Neumann University Music: Theme courtesy of John Gravois

“Not only did I just skate this nice program, but I actually wrote this song.”

Timothy Dolensky

Kennesaw State University

In this episode, we hear from Timothy Dolensky, a student at Kennesaw State University, who expresses himself creatively through figure skating and composing music—two passions he combined in a recent performance.

About this series: Say Something collects stories from college students about what they’re up to and why. Check for new episodes every two weeks during the summer. View more episodes.

Photo: Tom Briglia. Music: Theme courtesy of John Gravois; “Windfall” courtesy of Timothy Dolensky.

“It’s a good, overwhelming feeling to be there for somebody.”

Beth Ann Grouell

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

In this episode, we hear from Beth Ann Grouell, a single mother and a devoted funeral-services student at the Lake Washington Institute of Technology. She explains why she’s always wanted to be a funeral director—and why her five-hour daily commute is worth it.

See the slide show: At a Funeral-Services Program, a Student Finds Her Calling

About this series: Say Something collects stories from college students about what they’re up to and why. Check for new episodes every three weeks. View more episodes.

Photo: Matthew Ryan Williams for The Chronicle. Music: Theme courtesy of John Gravois

“Here we were, being thrown directly into an emergency situation.”

Emily Heeren

Gettysburg College

In this episode, we hear from Emily Heeren, a junior at Gettysburg College, who describes how she helped escort to safety a young woman who fell 80 feet off a cliff while hiking at the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.

About this series: Say Something collects stories from college students about what they’re up to and why. Check for new episodes every three weeks. View more episodes.

Photo: Courtesy of Emily Heeren Music: Theme courtesy of John Gravois

“I made $30 singing ‘Puff, the Magic Dragon’ once.”

Kelsey

Pennsylvania State University

In this episode, we hear from Kelsey, a music major at Pennsylvania State University, who took a couple of years off before college and raised money by singing on the streets of Pittsburgh.

About this series: Say Something collects stories from college students about what they’re up to and why. Check for new episodes every three weeks. View more episodes.

“ ‘I wasn’t meant to be even here on this earth’: That’s the thinking I had.”

Solina Wilhelm

Honolulu Community College

In this episode, we hear from Solina Wilhelm, a student at Honolulu Community College, who tells us how she has used art to ameliorate the pain of being born as a product of rape.

About this series: Say Something collects stories from college students about what they’re up to and why. Check for new episodes every three weeks. View more episodes.

Photo: Kamalei Wilhelm Music: Theme courtesy of John Gravois

“For the first time, I realized that a Muslim family is just like my family.”

Cary Dabney

Youngstown State University

In this episode we hear from Cary Dabney, a junior at Youngstown State University who leads its Interfaith Youth Core. He tells us about the life-changing experience that piqued his interest in working with people of other religions.

About this series: Say Something collects stories from college students about what they’re up to and why. Check for new episodes every three weeks. View more episodes.

Photo: Youngstown State U. Music: Theme courtesy of John Gravois

“That was my Cinderella story.”

April Vance

Howard University

In this episode, we hear from April Vance, a senior at Howard University, who spent a decade in foster care as a child. She tells us how she ended up at Howard—and why she founded Advance Project, an organization that mentors foster children.

About this series: Say Something collects stories from college students about what they’re up to and why. Check for new episodes every three weeks. View more episodes.

Photo: Courtesy of April Vance. Music: Theme courtesy of John Gravois

“You collect crazy incidents that you never expected to happen on your bus.”

Alexa Jensen

University of Massachusetts at Amherst

In this episode, we hear from Alexa Jensen, a senior at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, who tells us what it’s like to drive a bus on campus and beyond.

About this series: Say Something collects stories from college students about what they’re up to and why. Check for new episodes every three weeks. View more episodes.

Photo: Don Chapman. Music: Theme courtesy of John Gravois