Mahi Malladi (2025) was one of the two students in Washington state selected for the US Senate Youth Program. The Senate Youth Program is “an intensive week-long experience and scholarship sponsored by the US Senate for outstanding high school students who are interested in pursuing careers in public service” (their website). Mahi will spend a week in D.C. learning from appointed officials and she won a $10,000 scholarship for her undergraduate education. As her friend, I am immensely proud of this incredible accomplishment and wanted to hear more about this from her.
Why did you decide to apply for the youth senate?
I was actually just looking online for scholarships for college since we had just come from a college meeting for the juniors, and I was really stressing out about the cost of it. So, I was searching for scholarships, and I’m interested in law and community work. This came up and it so happened to be for a group that I am already a part of, so I already knew the chair of the organization. It just so happened that it all worked out. But I live laugh love google!
How long was the process? What was included in the application?
So, first there was like a normal application that you had to fill out with questions like “why do you want to do this?” and stuff. Then I had to write an essay that was about a page long about a key characteristic that informs the community work I do so I talked about how I like to lead with love. Often the DEI work I do can be the result of anger or rage or a lot of resentment. I wrote down how I wanted to lead with love and how I think that is important, especially with equity work and how that is needed in legislation. Then Krishna also had to write a letter of recommendation for me which took a few weeks for him to do and once that was sent in, they confirmed finalists. Then I had a four hour long interview the day we had school off, so I prepared a 15-minute testimony about a bill of my choice, pro or con. I talked about parents’ bill of rights which I testified against. Then I also had to write an essay about current events that I didn’t know the prompt of beforehand. Then I had to do an in-person interview and we also had a guest speaker from Washington’s house. We listened to that speaker, and it was fun because I was wearing pajama bottoms and my suit top because it was an online thing.
How many people applied?
I do not know how many people applied, but only fifteen finalists and two winners per state and then two back up winners. They get like $500 for their undergraduate education but the winners, Giana Frank and I, both get $10,000 each for undergraduate study in college.
Who was the first person you told after you found out this amazing news?
They told me it was going to be released on a Friday, so I was extremely nervous. I had B block free, so I went to a café to go work on applications for other things when I got the email and I literally just started crying because like I read it, and I was just in disbelief. I kept on refreshing the page because I was like “no way, I actually got it!?”. I texted my family group chat but then no one was responding! I called my mom who also did not respond, then my sister who was in an eye doctor appointment, then my dad who was in a meeting. Then I texted Lucía and Krishna, Krishna responded right away. Then I also called my freshman friends, who didn’t know I applied. Lucía, Krishna, and my sister were the only people who knew, my parents didn’t even know I applied. My freshman friends were so excited that they started crying too.
Of all the reactions you got, which was your favorite?
My favorite reaction was 100% my dad’s, He was in a meeting when I first called him, so I waited until it was over to tell him which just so happened to be during my C block class. I ended up going to the bathroom and telling him my news over FaceTime. He said I should’ve told him during the meeting because it was much more important than his work and that he was beyond blessed to be my dad. I started crying when he said that, and I think he was too. Because I had to get back to class, he texted me that he told his entire office, and they were very proud of me. He even texted, “I noted down in my calendar, this is the best day of my life. December 1st, 2023, the day I heard the greatness of my daughter’s first big accomplishment, many more to come, this is just the beginning…”. Even though I’ve had months to process this news, I’m still in disbelief I’ve won this honor. My grandfather was a farmer, and it is unbelievable that his granddaughter is going to meet the president now. The president of a country that didn’t even want us if you go back a few decades ago! Somehow, I made it this far which is astounding!
This is a huge deal, you get to go on an amazing trip, get a scholarship, so many opportunities, the chance to meet a ton of people, and so much more. Out of everything, for what are you most excited?
I have two things. First, the vice president! It is actually quite insane that we’ve never had a female president, but the day Kamala Harris was inaugurated I literally cried. I remember Overlake stopped school so we could watch her be inaugurated so that was amazing to see her on YouTube live and now I am going to see her in person. She’s also half-Indian so representation!! I get to talk to her; I have a Notes page of what I’m going to say to her! Second, they make a white chocolate construction of The Capitol, and we get to eat that, so I am really excited for that because it’s apparently a big tradition during dinner!
Wait, is this old?
This is their 62nd year of the program running.
Do they make a new one every year or is it the same one for 62 years?
Same design.
Same design, but a new chocolate?
Yeah! Don’t worry it’s the same mold, but new chocolate. But that’s exciting because I get to be in The Capital, experience The Capital, and eat The Capital.
Do you know what you will be doing while you’re in Washington DC?
They have not released the itinerary for 2024 yet, but they literally have it planned out to the minutes like it’s insane! It’s like 10:10 enter The White House, 10:15 get through security, 10:20 meet Biden, 10:30 do this thing. I am exaggerating a bit, but it is planned out so precisely. We get to meet military officials, legislators. We don’t get to meet AOC and Ayanna Pressley, and like, the gang, I checked multiple times. I do get to meet one senator from every state, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Kamala Harris, possibly Joe Biden, and we have meetings every day with different officials which is wild.
What would those meetings be for?
They are usually dinners or key notes, Obama once gave a keynote to the students there. We have dinners every night which are formal, so I still have to buy a suit and stuff. It is nice because we get to talk to them more casually at dinners but still get to learn from them in a more formal setting in the keynotes.
When is the DC trip?
I get to go the first week of March, and then the end of march I go to Spain for project week! So, it is literally like two weeks of school in March! There are so many airplane trips I am so excited!
That was like November for me with SDLC
Oh my gosh I love SDLC! I wrote about SDLC in my application.
Is there anything else you think the Overlake community should hear about this? Anything that you think is worth noting about this program? Advice for anyone who is planning on applying in the future?
I would say that when I first approached Krishna to write my letter of recommendation, I was trying to convince myself that I there was no way I would ever get in so why even waste Krishna’s time, but he was like “Mahi, just do it, see what will happen” and I’m still in disbelief. I told Joana Guiler, and she started crying. I told my teachers, and they were so excited for me, I told my fifth-grade teacher, I’m what like, 6 years past 5th grade, and she’s so proud of me. There are people who believe in you more than you believe in yourself, and it is so amazing to see that. So many people at Overlake are amazing, students and teachers, and I am so thankful for their support. There are people who believe in you even when you don’t believe in yourself, so really lean into that.
If you would like to read more, below is the press release of the Washington Students who were selected for the Senate Youth Program
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