It’s officially the end of 2025 and what a year it has been. The Outreachy team had to have very difficult conversations and make tough decisions. But, even with how uncertain things were at some point, we were still able to welcome 21 interns as Outreachy interns for the December 2025 cohort.
After the intern announcements on December 1st, the focus moved quickly toward getting everyone settled for the internship start on December 8th. This month was all about ensuring that interns, mentors, and coordinators had what they needed to begin the round smoothly, especially with the changes that had been made to the program.
At the start of the month, I concentrated on onboarding mentors, coordinators, and interns onto the Outreachy platforms. I added all of the mentors and interns to the Zulip platforms and mailing lists. Assisted with questions mentors or interns had about the internship program.
Once the internships officially began, much of my work focused on being available and responsive during the initial adjustment period. The first week often brings a wave of questions as interns get familiar with their projects, meet their mentors, and settle into communication routines. I supported mentors and coordinators by addressing their questions and clarifying expectations.
Throughout the month, I maintained steady communication with communities to ensure everyone stayed aligned with program expectations. I shared reminders about early internship milestones, reviewed feedback, checked in with mentors to see how the internship was progressing, and addressed any concerns that surfaced as interns began contributing to their projects.
As December came to a close, the pace began to settle into a more predictable rhythm. Interns were becoming more comfortable with their work, and mentors were establishing routines. As the new year begins, the focus now shifts toward sustaining that momentum into January as interns deepen their engagement with their projects.
Tilda's Thoughts 