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!

Not too late at all. 'Education is wasted on the young'. Go for what you want, in ten years you'll look back and be amazed at how apprehensive you were about it.

I started my HND age 34. I’ve just graduated with an MA age 45. DH is just finishing his MSc and will be 55 when he graduates. He had a CSE in woodwork when he started on an adult access course 8 years ago.

You are nowt but a baby in terms of adult education!!

Oh, yes, and I forgot to add we have both had massive career changes, from unskilled minimum wage stuff to professional jobs.

You can do this!!!

I cannot explain how overwhelmed I am at the sheer amount of replies I've had to this!
I thank each and every one of you, I'm feeling incredibly positive right now. I can do this!

I will read through this entire thread again in the morning when I'm less foggy headed (had a very early start this morning) and I will go through all the links that have been thoughtfully provided.

Honestly, your encouragement means so much to me. I've been feeling quite down about things recently but you have all proved I can turn this around.
Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly lucky, very much so, I have a wonderful family, a fantastic husband, but I need to do something just for me.

I suggest seeing a careers advisor.

My friend left school with no GCSEs. Aged 30 with young children -had a bit of a realisation that was not 'it' for her -she wanted a career. She did a few GCSEs at night school -English, Maths etc and then did A Levels and a few OU courses. She then applied and got in to do medicine -and now is a local GP. She's hugely popular and aged 45 is super at her job and although it took 10 + years to qualify she has 20 -30 years of GP work to go! Loves it and is amazing at it. Any job -teaching or nursing is HARD but it's hard to be a good bricklayer. Each job has pluses and minuses. But the world is your oyster! I'd rather my child's outstanding teacher had taken a longer route there and comes with a life story!

PS Does your husband not split childcare 50/50 if you were working then? Or state school etc? nursery? He needs to step up and you need to have a conversation about how he is going to support you in this.

My friend was single with no husband and no family near by. Where there is a will there is a way..................

Very best wishes OP you will do fine.

Of some course you need something for you,being a mum it’s not itself enough

I'm in a similar position but I'm 36, youngest child (of 3) is still a baby so I'm planning on doing a degree in a year or 2. Definitely a good idea to do something that will lead to a job, I already have a degree but have done care work since I graduated which I've enjoyed but I want a professional career now (I'm thinking about child nursing, I'm also especially interested in neonatal, but not certain yet). You can do it, OP!

When I went to nursing school there was another student who was in her 50s or 60s I believe. She had been a care aide for years and decided to return to school to become an RN. (A care aide is also known as a personal care aide, nursing aide, PCA, personal support aide, health care aide, or HCA in my area. They are trained to provide personal hygiene care, mobility assistance, and basic medication assistance to clients. Usually they work in a hospital, care facility, or in home care. Their program is a 16-week certificate or they may have on-the-job training.)

My mother returned to university in her early 50s so she could take language courses. I myself have taught students who were in their 30s and 40s - I teach practical nursing (state enrolled nurse equivalent) at a college. You're never too old! You may find it easier to see if there is an online, evening, or weekend program that you could attend. Many institutions now have these options.

I'm in my 30s and like you, didn't try as hard as I could for GCSEs and dropped out of A-Levels.

I am now studying with the OU and get a student loan that covers my fees. I would email the OU and ask how you would find out if you qualify. Also, with the OU you can choose modules you are interested in and choose a general pathway until you have more idea what you want to do. They offer an 'Open' degree which is an option if you can't decide on a particular degree subject