Some college, no degree: the Americans who find it impossible to graduate

Aaron in his bedroom with posters reflecting his musical tastes and a photo of himself with his father. He lives with roommates in the large house in Santa Cruz his parents vacated when they could no longer afford it. It is one of the most expensive housing markets in the country. Photograph: Rachel Buljalski

Everyone knows the feeling of leaving something unfinished.

A half-written novel. A business idea scribbled into a notebook. A hobby abandoned after the excitement fades. In my own life as a documentary photographer, I’ve started countless projects that never fully materialized. Some stories lose momentum. Others wait years before revealing what they are really about.