DEV Community

Ali Spittel
Ali Spittel

Posted on • Updated on

I'm Going Back to being a DEV Community Member

First, I want to give a huge thank you to both the DEV team and the DEV community -- you all have changed my life over the past few years, and I'm so grateful for that. I've made great friends and received so many professional opportunities all because of this site!

Over the last few months, I've realized a lot about myself.

1) Working mostly alone is really hard for me, I can't break out of anxious cycles easily, and those are exacerbated by the stresses of my life both on and offline. Working remote has been really hard on my mental health, and I've tried a ton to overcome that and haven't made a lot of progress. I also lived alone for a lot of my time at DEV which really compounded the issue.

2) Teaching is my life and career goal and I want to pursue that as much as I can.

I will still be DEV's #1 fangirl and can't recommend writing on here or working for DEV enough (here's more info on DEV if you're new, and here's my writing advice). I just am moving from the core team back to a community member โค๏ธ.

Top comments (37)

Collapse
 
ben profile image
Ben Halpern

We really have had such a great time working with you Ali and are so happy for you with this choice. Your technical contributions have been outstanding, but getting to know you as a person has been the real special part.

I just think it's really great that you will be pursuing your career goals directly and I'm sure DEV will be part of that journey. I also commend you for being open your anxiety and struggles with remote work. It's brave as hell.

Can't wait to see what amazing things you do next as one of the most talented programmers I've ever worked with, and I can't wait to read your next great DEV post.

Collapse
 
aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

Thank you so, so much!

Collapse
 
amexboy profile image
Amanu

You just got the best farewell message ever. It can't get any better than this ;-)

Collapse
 
ssimontis profile image
Scott Simontis

Even in leaving you are setting a wonderful example of leadership; you recognized that your mental health and well-being is more important than anything else out there and took steps to protect it. I know firsthand how much courage that takes because I struggle with it myself.

Thank you for all you have done for this site and best of luck with your teaching career!

Collapse
 
aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

Thank you so much!

Collapse
 
peter profile image
Peter Kim Frank

Ali, it's been wonderful working with you, and I'm so excited that you'll have the opportunity to focus your efforts and talents directly on teaching.

Your future students, and the rest of us who get to benefit from your educational contributions, are all very lucky.

See you around the community, and hopefully at a conference soon!

Collapse
 
aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

Thank you so, so much! See you then!

Collapse
 
jamiekaren profile image
Jamie Ferrugiaro

I think it's awesome you are not only open with yourself, but in a world and generation that is ever more trending towards remote-work, publicly with others too. It's a good reminder that despite what a community seems to encourage or whatever lifestyle trends are currently happening, only you as an individual can truly decide and figure out what works for you personally (and they aren't always the same thing).

Collapse
 
aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

Thank you so much, that is so true!

Collapse
 
dominicduffin1 profile image
Dominic Duffin

I think it's great that you've been able to write this down, Ali! Sometimes things don't work out and posts like these can help other people realise that they can change their mind if things are not working for them.

I hope you find new opportunities that allow you to pursue your goals!

Collapse
 
aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

Thank you so much!

Collapse
 
dechamp profile image
DeChamp

Hey props to you. I think it shows courage to make moves in search of better mental health. I did remote work for a year plus. I came out of depressed and in a dark place. Human interactions, even if it's non-interactive is a must. You are making the right choice, hope to still see your awesome post.

Collapse
 
aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

Thank you so much!

Collapse
 
ashleemboyer profile image
Ashlee (she/her)

Thank you for all you've contributed to this amazing site and good luck!! ๐Ÿ’š

Collapse
 
aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

โค๏ธ

Collapse
 
yechielk profile image
Yechiel Kalmenson

Wow, good luck on your next steps!

Wherever it is we're sure you're going to rock!

Keep being awesome!

Collapse
 
aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

Thank you so, so much!

Collapse
 
thefern profile image
Fernando B ๐Ÿš€

Thank you for all your work in the community. You are the reason why I am here and is made me a better developer by leaps and bounds. Thanks for sharing your struggles and hope you get better. Good luck in your next endeavor!

Collapse
 
aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

That's so cool to hear, thank you so much! Will definitely do!

Collapse
 
danjconn profile image
Dan Conn

Good luck with your future teaching I look forward to hopefully still reading things you write!

Although I like working from home a lot, I do like to also pop into an office from time to time for the same reasons you have above.

Thanks for your openness on how remote working can take it's toll on mental health. I hope the teaching helps the healing ๐Ÿ™‚

Collapse
 
andy profile image
Andy Zhao (he/him)

It was great getting to work with you Ali! See you around on the web โœŒ๏ธ

Collapse
 
aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

Great working with you too! See you around!

Collapse
 
codemouse92 profile image
Jason C. McDonald

Bravo on your self-awareness and personal boundaries! I look forward to seeing more writing from you, of course, in your inimitable style.

Collapse
 
aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

Thank you!!!!!!

Collapse
 
khrome83 profile image
Zane Milakovic

I just found this article randomly and started to read the comments.

As a people leader in technology at my day job, I have to say the exchange here by both Ali and the DEV that worked with her is amazing.

A lot of time we think about the company, the project, the sprint, and we forget about the people. Or I should say, I observe this to no end in corporate environments. I often find that I am in situations to defend these type of actions and try and change mind sets.

People are important. Period. Mental health is important. Period. And we should be supporting our people, even if that means they are no longer supporting us.

It is brave to make this change, my hat is off to you Ali. I am curious where you landed after making this decision. Did you ever write a follow up?

My hat is off to the DEV team for the public response, and the professionalism and humanity in it. Please keep leading my example.

I have really enjoyed being part of this community.

Collapse
 
the_hme profile image
Brenda ๐Ÿฑ

Best wishes!

Collapse
 
spqrbob profile image
Bob McCann • Edited

Ali,

I have always enjoyed your posts that I have read (in that Venn diagram of my interests / your post topics). You are a both an excellent writer and are very knowledgeable in our field, and your contributions to dev.to have added immense value to this site as a whole! I am sad to see you choose to move on, but at the same time absolutely understand all of the reasons you give, and I wish you best of luck in your future endeavors.

That being said, it is my most emphatic hope and request that you do not stop at least occasionally contributing articles about things that interest you, as well as commenting on other people's posts to share your thoughts.

All of dev.to is in your debt to you for everything you have done. Take your well-deserved rest, and continue to grace us with your presence and occasional thoughts and observations! Thank you again for everything you do!