Certain relatively more "pure" sciences have a very bad habit of making people feel bad about leaving -- or people who are in those fields going through a lot o

Certain relatively more "pure" sciences have a very bad habit of making people feel bad about leaving -- or people who are in those fields going through a lot of "departure guilt" placed on themselves. I have learned that this is not because they have some objectively better life (or prestige) in academia, but rather because most people within the field don't know what the real world is outside and subject themselves to a hostage-like mentality. The sad thing is that everyone leaves academia at some point (practically speaking, except for the few lifelong people who get to the very top -- and that is like hitting the lottery, so why bet on it). If you're sure to leave, why contribute to giving people angst about leaving? Why feel guilt over something that is an unavoidable part of the path? These fields should more actively show students and researchers that there is life / jobs outside of the field and what you can do with your degree and education. The field I am pretty sure will only become better because of it. It will not be like you turned traitor to it and are worthy of only being talked about in hushed tones as "someone who left".