Rana
Rana Akila
is a Palestinian mother from Gaza and a STEPS scholar for 2025-2026. After the demands of motherhood and the hardships around her had made continuing her education feel out of reach, the scholarship gave her the chance to return to her studies — and, as she puts it, a second chance to pursue a future she had thought belonged to the past.In her own words:
Receiving the STEPS Scholarship has had a profound impact on my life and education. As a Palestinian mother, I had reached a point where I thought I had already missed my chance to pursue my studies. The responsibilities of motherhood and the challenges around me had made continuing my education feel like a dream that belonged to the past.The STEPS Scholarship changed that. It gave me the opportunity to return to my studies and reminded me that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. The financial support has made it possible for me to continue my education with greater stability and focus, while the encouragement behind the scholarship has given me confidence and hope in my ability to achieve my goals.
This opportunity means so much to me, not only as a student but also as a mother. Pursuing my education is a way of building a better future for myself and my children, and of showing them that, even when circumstances are difficult, we should not give up on our dreams. The scholarship has given me more than financial support — it has given me a second chance.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who makes the STEPS Scholarship possible. Their generosity is not simply supporting one student's education; it is investing in the hopes, potential, and future of Palestinian students.
I hope that other Palestinian students will be able to experience the same opportunity that I have received, including those who may feel that their chance has already passed. Sometimes, all it takes is someone believing in you and giving you the opportunity to continue. For me, STEPS has been that opportunity, and I will always be grateful for it.