Career Pivot vs. Pipe Dream? Is becoming a professor worthwhile right now?
EDIT: I am not asking how to become a professor, only if current professors (especially in the arts) feel it's worthwhile to sink time/money to pursue. EDIT FOR CLARITY: This was a lecturer position and I am exposing how little I know about academia, as I did not realize these aren't interchangeable and I was afraid to be too specific to connect it back to the position I lost out on.
I recently learned I did not get a prof job I was interviewing for and I am way more sad than I thought I'd be. Sometimes losing an opportunity shows us very clearly where our priorities lie and what we really want...sometimes the grass just seems greener.
I worked corporate jobs for a long time and through a personal connection was invited to apply for a position that I'm not totally qualified for – I only have a Bachelor's and no background in education. Still, I've always been extremely drawn to (and good at) mentoring others and creating environments for people to experiment and learn. I've been extremely burnt out on corporate environments – it just feels super meaningless. In the interview process every committee member said the same thing: it's an extremely fulfilling career. I have secretly dreamed of being a professor before, so it all felt kismet and I got too attached to a job I didn't have yet.
My question for current arts professors is: Is it worth pursuing higher ed teaching actively (vs. this passive opportunity that just happened to align perfectly)? Do you find it to be fulfilling and for that to weigh heavily enough against low salary or any other drawbacks you find in your career?
For context, my background is in the arts/photography. I think I'd need to get a masters to really compete for these roles and I'm not particularly interested in moving long distances for a job because of family, so I'm limited to the colleges in my area (I do live in a big college down with 4+ colleges I could theoretically try for).