We officially kicked off the June 2025 Outreachy internship this month, and as always, it’s been a joy getting to know some of the new interns and mentors. We hosted our first intern chat on working remotely, and the energy from both interns and mentors was amazing. Several mentors joined the conversation to share their remote work tips and personal experiences with adjusting to remote work. I really enjoyed co-hosting the session alongside Omotola, and I’m already looking forward to future chats.
We also reviewed the initial feedback reports this month. It was the first time using our updated mentor feedback prompt, and I’d say it was a success. We saw noticeable improvements in the quality of feedback, especially in terms of how mentors described their interns’ progress. Many included links to relevant artifacts where needed and provided more detailed, thoughtful reflections than we’ve seen in past cycles. While a few reports still lacked depth and required follow-up, this happened far less frequently than in previous rounds. We’ll continue to refine our processes to make this experience smoother for everyone involved.
The interns’ first blog posts were also published this month, and I found them incredibly moving. The updated blog prompt encouraged the interns to have a deeper reflection on their Outreachy journey, and I loved reading about their motivations. Some shared how they’d applied multiple times before being accepted, turning each rejection into a learning experience. It’s inspiring to see their perseverance, and I’m excited to witness their growth over the rest of the internship.
On a personal note, I graduated from university a few days ago. I have a tendency to downplay milestones, but I’m making an effort to truly celebrate this one. In many ways, working with Outreachy pushed me to believe I could finish my degree, even during moments when I wasn’t sure I could. So here’s to progress and possibilities.
Ending this report with a photo of me in my graduation robe—cheers! 🎓
Tilda's Thoughts 