Fall 2026 Winner of the Supporting Prisoners Families Scholarship

Asiya Kadivar

Asiya Kadivar, a sophomore studying Statistics and Machine Learning at Carnegie Mellon University, has been named the $1,000 winner of the Supporting Prisoners Families Scholarship Program. In her essay, Asiya discusses how her mother’s incarceration forced her to take on massive responsibility at a young age and learn how to balance love, compassion, and accountability.

Read Their Essay Here:

As a student with an incarcerated mother, I have spent much of my life trying to understand her motivations, as well as my own. I have struggled to understand when, if ever, love should overcome justice, and what it looks like when it does. My mother has been in and out of jail for a number of years and for a number of reasons. Throughout this time, people have told me again and again that it would be reasonable to be angry with her for the way she treated me and my family. They have told me that it would be understandable if I never wanted to speak to her again. But that is not how I feel. Instead, I feel sadness. I am saddened that my mother seems unable to fully understand the court orders she has been given, and that her sense of permanence is so fragile that the only future she can imagine is one where she regains custody of her children again, not eventually, but immediately.

Growing up, I often saw myself as a provider for my family. As the oldest sibling, I helped raise my younger brothers and sisters and tried to set an example for them as I did so. When my mother struggled emotionally, especially during the years when she was raising us alone, I did my best to comfort her. I felt responsible not only for my siblings, but for my mother as well. That sense of responsibility shaped the way I saw myself and my place in my family.

When my mother went to jail, everything changed. My family was separated, and I moved in with my father, a man I had known for only three months. At the same time, I left behind the siblings I had helped raise and the home that had defined my childhood. The foundation of who I believed I was fractured alongside my family. I had to begin rebuilding my identity while also learning how to live in an unfamiliar household with a parent I barely knew.

In the years since, I have tried to hold onto the values that guided me when I was younger. I continue to prioritize my siblings and their well-being, even when doing so is difficult. I testified on their behalf when they needed my help. I question my father when his stories do not line up, because I believe honesty matters. I call my mother when I can to comfort her, but I also tell her when she is wrong. Navigating these relationships has not been easy, but it has taught me how to think carefully about responsibility, fairness, and compassion.

Through all of this, I have remained committed to setting an example for my siblings and for myself. I strive to be someone who approaches life with moral clarity and consistency, someone who can acknowledge difficult truths while still holding onto empathy. Education has become an important part of that process for me. Academic discovery gives me the opportunity to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and better understand the world around me.

This scholarship would make a meaningful difference in my life. Pursuing higher education is not only a personal goal but also a way for me to create stability and opportunity for my future. Financial support would allow me to focus more fully on my education and continue building the kind of future that once felt uncertain. More than that, receiving this scholarship would remind me that the challenges I have faced do not define my limits, but rather the strength I bring with me as I move forward.