To think I've left it too late

[focusonthefuture]

I left school at 16 with 10 GCSEs (C grades and one B, nothing spectacular, I'm the first to admit I didn't give my all when it came to exams backs then).

I dropped out of college a few months into AS levels. Big stupid mistake. Unhappy home life, no focus on my future, silly 16 year old mentality.

Drifted through retail jobs until becoming a SAHM 6 years ago.

Have I left it too late to sort my life out?
I'm 30 now. I look back on my life and I could kick my younger self. If I could go back in time and give myself a good shake then I would.

I don't know where to start. I know nothing about higher education, student loans, entering a profession.
I've looked at open university but again, I don't know where to start. I wouldn't know what subject to pick.
I only get one shot when it comes to getting a student loan, is that right? So whatever I pick has to be the right thing.
Even if I were to get qualifications, how do I go about entering back into the world of work?

My children are still very young so I need to work things around them. But I'm tired of feeling like a failure.

Sorry, this is long. I still feel like that lost 16 year old!

It's never too late for studying or a career change.

I’m 40. Starting college in September.
Really excited.
My dad started uni when he was 30 ( met my mum and got married while there ) and he got his PhD. Never too late.

I was 33 when I decided to study for a degree, so no it's not too late. At 30, you've got nearly 40 working years ahead of you. Too many just to drift aimlessly on. You'd probably need to do an Access course before starting a degree, but that's not the only option. Well done on taking the decision to make a success of your life, and good luck!

How many dc and how old are they? What kind of support do you have?

30 is still young. You could spend 6 or 7 years training and still have a 25 year career!

What are you interested in? What job could you see yourself being good at?

Nope you haven’t left it too late
One example of many, a friends sister went back to college to complete her a levels (in her 30s), once all three kids were in full time school.
She then went on to complete a degree in radiography...and is now happily working.
Definitely possible, wishing you the best

At 43 I did an HNC, at 44 I started uni, and now 45 and about to start y2 of my degree.

never too old :)

I barely knew what I wanted to do until I was about 27 and went back to college and studied for my HNC in business, I worked part time around college and the kids and have now made the first step in a Marketing career at 30.

I too had the kids young (19) and didn't feel I gave my all at school, I found exams very hard but I actually enjoyed going back to school as an adult and I worked a lot harder and better. Go for it!

I started my degree at 54, and graduated at 58. You can find it easier when you're older and not chasing boys/girls/booze/drugs.

...and I had four DC

It's a great age to start a career or new path. You'll be up and running by your mid thirties - you don't retire until you're gone 60 so that's decades to play with!

It helps to cast your mind back to when you didn't have any adult concerns to worry about. It can give you insight into your strengths and preferences.

What did you want to be when you were a little girl? Or what did you like doing or playing with? Were you creative? musical? or practical? Were you organised with everything in its place or did you prefer to be a bit chaotic? If you liked making things think about engineering or plumbing even, there's a real demand for those and if you enjoy something practical you'd probably find it very rewarding.

The world is your oyster! It's exciting! Enjoy having a think.

There used to be NHS bursaries for some degrees, my sister got hers paid for that way, and as a single parent made up the different with other bursaries (she's amazing at finding out what she's entitled to) not sure they still do tbh, Radiography, Midwifery, Nursing used to I know but like I say I think that's changed.

Mental nursing is hugely in demand but it's a hard job.

Definitely not too late, but do you have any clue what you want to do? You will be far more motivated if it's a career path that you are interested/passionate about. My DF retrained as a teacher when he was in his 40s.

Not too late you have 30 years minimum left!
I would consider resitting maths if you didn’t get a decent grade as it’s very useful.

Have you thought about what you’d like to do?

It's never too late, OP. I used to work in student finance and there was a great number of applications from people older than you. Please don't let the thoughts you've been having you stop you from thinking about university.

Definitely not too late.

What would you like to do?

No not too late. Go for it if you can.

It's never late!

You can start with baby steps.
Have a look at www.coursera.org and try few subjects. You will see what could suit you. It's free unless you want their certificate.

Another option to start yourself up and build up your cv is
www.vision2learn.com/default.aspx
Usually level 2 courses.

You might really need level 3 (like A level) qualification for uni. That's what Access to HE is for.
First figure out what would you like to do and then go speak to universities to see if they need you to get extra qualifications or if you could join on foundation degree.

Wow! Thank you so much for all your replies!

You have got your GCSEs, that’s a good start. Good luck. You can do this, whatever you decide.

Sorry, I somehow posted that before I'd finished.
I have three children, 6, 5 and 2.
No outside help.

In terms of what i want to do... I don't know. I always wanted to be a teacher when I was little. After reading up on it and talking to people, I've come to realise it probably wouldn't fit with family life (?)
I considered nursing but my husband works long hours and I wouldn't be able to manage the shift patterns (what with having no childcare)

I don't know. There's lots of things I can imagine myself doing but I don't know where my true passion lies IYSWIM?

My life has been consumed by motherhood the last few years... I don't even have any hobbies

I went straight to uni. Did my foundation year which is kind of in house access course and I start my first year in Sept. I'll be 49 when I qualify but with luck and health willing I'll be 49 regardless so I thought I may as well.
I'm doing a profession based degree as opposed to something that just took my fancy. As you say you only get one shot at finance. Try and choose something that has the potential to get you working in a field. One thing I can't do is move to London and join a graduate scheme so I had to look for a degree that I can easily find work in my home city with. Good luck.
Its been a brilliant move for me.

universities & colleges all have people who give advice on courses & help with focusing on what qualification could help. Lots of entry level and pre degree courses too have a look on the websites of local universities & colleges & give them a ring.

You definitely have not. I am 37 and in what others would describe as a fabulous career, but I’m packing it all in at the end of the year to try to figure out what I actually WANT to do.

It sounds like you’re possibly as clueless as me right now in terms of what career choice is right for you, so have you thought about looking into volunteering or shadowing in professions you’re interested in?

donajimena that's exactly what I was thinking, I want to do something that will lead me into a profession. I don't want to waste my time doing a random degree just because it tickled my fancy... I don't have the money for that

What did you enjoy most in school?

A lot of mature female students go for teaching and nursing but I'd try to go for something that would earn more money and cause less stress.