Recipient of PAAIA’s 2026 summer Capitol Hill Internship Program (CHIP) fellowship Milad Davaran reflects on his time on The Hill. Through both Congressional internship placements and mentorship from Iranian American professionals in government, the CHIP fellowship supports aspiring leaders to ensure they are able to gain real-world legislative experience and education. Below find Milad Davaran’s reflection on his time with Congresswoman Young Kim as a CHIP fellow:
“My internship with the Office of Congresswoman Young Kim in California’s 40th Congressional District was my first CHIP fellowship, and it was deeply meaningful. I have long been driven by a desire to serve others and contribute to something larger than myself. Returning to Southern California, to the communities where I grew up, made the experience especially meaningful because it connected my work at Yale to the places and people who first showed me what public service means.
Throughout the internship, I worked directly with constituents, supporting the office in addressing their concerns and needs. Through these interactions, I developed a clearer understanding of what public service looks like in practice. Public service means being present for people when they need you, whether that is a phone call from someone confused about benefits, an email from a family navigating the federal system, or time spent at community events alongside constituents.
One moment that stayed with me was helping organize the Service Academy Appointee Reception, an event honoring ten outstanding students who had earned appointments to our nation’s service academies in the Class of 2030. What struck me most was how much this moment meant to these students and their families. Having Congresswoman Kim and the office formally recognize their accomplishment and celebrate this milestone sent a clear message: your achievement matters, and we are invested in your success. In that moment, I came to understand more clearly that public service is about showing people that their dreams and potential are seen, valued, and supported.
I watched how these efforts translated into real support for real people, and it was humbling to witness.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked in Congresswoman Kim’s office and to have observed the dedication and professionalism of her staff. Their commitment to serving California’s 40th Congressional District left a lasting impression on me and strengthened my sense of responsibility toward public service.
I am equally grateful to PAAIA for making this opportunity possible. Their support for Iranian-American students pursuing government and public service reflects something I deeply believe in: expanding access, building representation, and developing leaders who bring our perspectives and experiences to these spaces.
This experience reminded me why I chose to pursue public service in the first place. Helping constituents and contributing to communities that helped shape who I am today made the opportunity especially rewarding, and I will carry that with me throughout my academic and professional journey.
As I return to Yale this semester, I want to bring these lessons directly into my coursework and my continued involvement in political leadership on campus. I am excited to share what I have learned with others and deepen my engagement in spaces where policy and advocacy take shape.
In the coming year(s), I am excited by the prospect of working on Capitol Hill, where I can apply what I have learned about constituent service and congressional operations while contributing to broader conversations about policy and governance. This fellowship was more than an internship; it was the beginning of my journey in public service.”
Visit the CHIP fellowship information page to learn more about this opportunity today.
