Miral
Miral Albandak
is a Palestinian student from the West Bank who came to the University of St Andrews as a STEPS scholar to pursue a Masters in Psychology — a dream she had carried for five years. Her studies let her turn that dream toward home, researching mental health stigma, help-seeking, anxiety, and social support within the Palestinian context, as she works toward a future supporting Palestinians facing their own silent struggles with mental health.In her own words:
My experience at the University of St Andrews, made possible through the STEPS Scholarship, has changed the trajectory of my life forever.For five years, studying Psychology and becoming a mental health professional was a dream I carried with me. Receiving this scholarship transformed that dream from words on a page into something real. It gave me the opportunity to study the subject I love at one of the best universities in the UK, and more importantly, it opened the door to a future in which I can dedicate my life to helping people who are struggling with their mental health.
St Andrews has given me far more than an academic degree. It introduced me to people who have shaped me in ways I will carry forever: the scholarship trustees who believed in me, my supervisor, my professors, my friends, and the people I now consider family. I have learned lessons inside and outside the classroom that have changed how I understand people, resilience, compassion, and the kind of psychologist I hope to become.
This opportunity also allowed me to contribute to mental health research in Palestine, something that once existed only as a vision in my mind. Being able to explore mental health stigma, help-seeking, anxiety, and social support within the Palestinian context made my studies feel deeply personal and meaningful. It reminded me that education is not only about what we gain for ourselves, but about what we are able to give back.
I will forever be grateful for the "yes" I received from the STEPS Scholarship. I am grateful that someone looked beyond a 500-word personal statement and believed in the person, the vision, and the potential behind those words. That belief gave life to a dream I had held onto for years.
This scholarship did not simply enable me to study Psychology. Its impact will continue through every person I am able to support in the future, through every individual who feels seen, heard, or less alone because of the work I hope to do, and especially through my commitment to supporting every Palestinian fighting silent and invisible battles with their mental health.
This is only the beginning of my journey as a psychologist and mental health professional. I will carry the responsibility and privilege of this education with me wherever I go, and I hope to use it to bring even a little more light into the lives of people who are struggling.
My 21-year-old self, who could only dream of this moment, will forever be grateful that her dream became a reality because someone saw the potential in that vision and gave her the chance to pursue it.
Thank you for believing in my potential and for giving me the opportunity to turn a long-held dream into a life of purpose, service, and impact. I will carry this gift with me in every person I am fortunate enough to help.