Education is the beating heart of many American immigrant families, and children of immigrant households face extreme pressure to perform academically. But even the most protective, diligent parents can’t always keep their children on the paths they tried to build for them.

This new essay tells the story of two second-generation Asian-American and Pacific-Islander (AAPI) men who ended up in prison at a young age and how they’ve been given a rare chance to start again.

Read their powerful stories and learn more about how programming and nonprofits dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated individuals into higher education can make a difference.