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This public service ad campaign distributed 20 video cameras to 20 teens and captured a telling portrait of their struggles to graduate from high school. These at-risk students had the license to film and speak freely; what they came back with reminds us how hard it is to be young, and how critical it is to have someone to give you a  "boost" of support. From Travis in New Orleans to JR in Seattle; from Hannah in Milton, Vermont to Cindy in Chicago, each of these 11th and 12th graders faces some obstacle to seeing his or her name on a diploma—and all have someone who's egging them on. We particularly recommend the clips from Roderick. The senior from South Central L.A. speaks eloquently of how tough reading can be, what a "Rock 'n Roll freak" he is, how creepy it is to be checked out by a gang-banger, and how his grandma motivates him.

This captivating site follows a group of kids from a private school in Northern California as they visit a Tanzanian village to lavish a schoolhouse and its students with supplies, aid, and boundless enthusiasm. It's touching to see video clips of the Americans, many of them African-American or Latino, speaking of the enormous challenges their new friends face. But it's the Tanzanian children who give this site its most poignant moments as they describe the ravages of AIDS, squirm through an American-style sex ed class, and raise their voices in song. The site's sophisticated design presents lush photos and video and audio interviews -- and contrasts stirringly with the grinding poverty that the small school contends with. But with friends like these, it's hard not to believe that things will get better. Little by little.

If you feel that there's a special circle of hell reserved for the people responsible for creating the lengthy college admissions process, Snafu University is the school for you. It's got all the essential elements of an ideal college experience, with none of the lofty standards. Emphasis on higher learning? Check. Dean Dean and the diverse faculty at Snafu pride themselves on believing that academics come first. Sports teams for the athletically inclined? Naturally. Join the varsity marbles squad or the intramural wheelbarrow-racing club. A totally hoppin' social scene? But of course. The list of extracurricular activities offers something for everyone from Tetris enthusiasts to Vegans for Violence. So go ahead and download their pre-approved online application. Not a single personal statement essay in sight.