To retrain in my 30s?

[GetYourRosariesOffMyOvaries]

I'm almost 30 and single with a six year old. I feel really unsatified with my working life and working future as there it is very unskilled "office" based work, mainly with young people and college students. I don't hate work by any stretch and I think that's partly the problem. There is no real opportunity to progress especially as I'm restricted with what hours I can do so my earning potential is fairly low and fulfilment is equivalent unless I go and retrain but I have tried this (evening college) but it wiped me financially, time and energy wise plus I did it on a whim and chose a subject that didn't really interest me!

I would love to hear stories of people who retrained later in life. I'm interested in psychology, addiction studies, sociology, counselling etc which are all a bit wishy washy in terms of employment (as in, do nursing you're a nurse, engineering-engineer, accounting etc)

I'm currently studying AAT accounting whilst expecting my first baby in the middle of the course and I'm nearly 31, go for it it's never too late to change your life
You'll regret not doing it

I trained to be a teacher when I was 43 as s single mum with a 10 year old and an 8 year old, just do what you want to do!

I came across a very good answer to a similar question recently. The asker was saying they would not have their degree until they were 44 and was it worth it, the response pointed out they could be 44 with a degree or 44 without a degree, they would still be 44.

40. With 2 kids. Spent 20 years in admin was utterly bored with it. So I'm now a 2nd year student nurse...

Apart from being shattered...I'm loving this. Patients really make my work enjoyable. Even the crabby ones

Just to provide another point of view...I went back to uni to retrain as an occupational therapist when I was 30. I already had a nursing university diploma.

I dropped out after 7 months. It was very hard being a student and having a low income. I didn't really gel with anyone on my course, I didn't think it was for me (despite doing lots of research and two days of work experience when I applied) and I found the student lifestyle really hard after being in the adult working world!

So just be aware that it's not successful for everyone.

I did secondary chemistry teaching in my thirties.
Although I qualified it knocked my confidence dreadfully and I never went on to do the career in it.

I started my nursing training when I was 34. I failed one of my last essays in 3rd year and didn’t get my qualification.

However, now at 40 I am starting uni again next week to train as an operating department practitioner. Should have done that in the first place and knew I always wanted to work in theatre.

Go for it. Never too old.

I'm nearly 40 and started a college Access to HE course today with the plan to go to uni next year and study Radiography. Sacked my boring full time job off and took the first part time job I was offered (it's great!). I've worried and fretted about this for the last three years but finally took the plunge. Go for it!!

My dh has retrained a couple of times. He went from being a publican to training as a computer technician when he was in his fifties (had never even touched a computer before that).
Now he's in his sixties and has just done his first GCSEs (having left school at 14), plus teacher training having discovered that to teach adult learners you don't need to do such a long course, with time being against him as it were. He spent last week doing restraint training for his new job working with young adults with severe learning difficulties. I'm very proud of him .

Believe me, 'almost 30' is definitely not too late to retrain!

I have just qualified as a primary teacher aged 44. I'm the oldest probationer I know. But I bring some great life skills with me. I'm tired and stressed but the good bits outweigh the bad and it will get easier when I find my feet.

Plus my earning potential has vastly increased. And I get to spend time with my own children instead of fighting for holidays and paying stupid childcare bills.

Do it!!

I'm in my late twenties and in the middle of a part time open university degree while working full time. My ultimate goal is primary teaching. If you haven't been to university before you can get a student loan through Student Finance England. Both the OU and SFE were very approachable and helpful when I was thinking about starting my degree. I don't find that studying part time takes over my life and still have time for family and friends. :)

I'm 20 (single mother) on an access course to social science.

On my course is a woman in her 40's and a 33 year old single dad! Both of them are doing really well and enjoying the course a lot.
The 33 year old male is planning to go into teaching (he was a bus driver)
The 40-ish year old female is planning to do criminology. She has been a cleaner for the last 20 years.

So with that in mind, I'd say go for it! It's an amazing opportunity and I think you should retrain!

Oh I have loved all the replies, it's been great to hear from all angles and well done everyone who went back!

It's my lack of commitment and flightiness that worries me, today alone I have jumped wildly from one entire career move to another. I would half research one thing and get distracted by another, all the while convincing myself that each new idea "had always been my true calling"

I would really love a session with an adult guidance counsellor, does such a thing exist!? Will I BE one? it's what I've always wanted to do
Gah!

Go for it OP!

I qualified later in life in Law after a bit of a mess up at school and then children, and it was a bit of a slog at Uni but I got there in the end!
Did some really interesting work too. I found that a bit of tough life experience gave me a better insight into some things I came across if that makes sense?

I also know two women who worked as cleaners at a University who studied through Open College over a number of years. Both went onto become students at the same University in their late 40s and got degrees! What a buzz!

Time to invest in yourself!
Have fun researching it all.

I am 35 and am just started a degree in Psychology with Open University. There are people in their 60s on my modules. Go for it!

Retrained as a priest in my 40s. Did a masters in my 50s. About to,start on a counselling type course. Never too old to learn.

I gave up a cushy, well paid but boring job to go to medical school aged 43. What seems like a million years later I am now nearly a fully qualified GP. I absolutely love my job. It's been hard work, sometimes stressful, sometimes exhausting and sometimes terrifying, but I am so so glad I did it.

Hello!

This is amazing. Just out of curiosity, did you already have the right qualifications/a relevant degree to go through the postgrad pathway, or did you do an undergrad? It’s something I’ve been considering (or having intrusive, dreamlike thoughts about) for a while, but I feel far too old, along with all the other practical worries and considerations.