system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[PhD dropout] I'm much happier after leaving my program, but feel sad that I won't be a professor.

I entered a PhD program immediately out of undergrad and dropped out after a year because I found myself unable to adjust to the lifestyle of academia. I found it difficult to complete my work in an unstructured environment and felt fairly isolated with so few people to talk to. Ultimately, I never overcame these personal challenges and felt super depressed, and so made the decision to drop out and accept a new job at a great company. I have since been doing really well at work. I went from being a very mediocre student to a superstar at the office. Still, I feel called to be a professor, as dumb as that sounds. The fact that you get paid to do research that you find interesting and discover truths about the world is literally the coolest thing I could imagine. I've considered going to therapy to address the issues that prevented me from being a successful PhD student and maybe reapplying for a program some years down the line. But I also feel like I should maybe just accept that the academic lifestyle will never be a fit for me and fulfill my calling in other ways. Has anyone had a similar experience?
gpt
You had a set of expectations about how your life would go, and it's not shaping up how you thought. It's natural to be sad about this. Look ahead, consider your other options and see how you can move forward. You might find that you really enjoy what you end up doing. Or maybe not, and that's also ok! Coming back to school after some time away can be really beneficial, and it is not uncommon for grad students.

And no matter what happens, or which way things go, professional therapy is a good idea. They can help a lot as you navigate this part of your life.