Is 32 to old

[Hmmmm88]

I have recently turned 32 and am desperate to start a career.

At 17 i was studying health & social care to become a social worker. Unfortunately i suddenly became very ill and was given 18 to 24 months to live so my further education and my dream went out the window

Fortunately i responded very well to treatment and i now live a symptom free life but have regular check ups with specialist and take medication daily.

At 20 i was still very poorly but slowly recovering i met my now DH. He has 2 boys who are now 14 & 16 so i have spent the last 12 years looking after them and my father in law who was diagnosed with dementia 9 years ago.

Now at 32 my DSS don't rely on me much these days and my FIL is happy and settled i have a good routine with him and i am now itching to fulfill my dream of becoming a social worker for the elderly and vulnerable.

There's not much in life i would say i am particularly good at but i know in my heart that there is no other career i would want. I would put 110% in daily to help those people and i feel it's something i would be good at.

Is 32 to old to try for this career? I only have GCSE'S as i couldn't finish my course so i feel I'll get laughed at

Definitely not - look at doing an access course at your local college and they will support you with a uni application for social work. I'd say given your age and circumstances you're in the perfect place to get started!

Well realistically you are not going to make it as a prima ballerina or an Olympic swimmer.

But not too old to be a doctor, a lawyer, a primary school teacher, a social worker, an accountant or a computer programmer.

No of course not! 32 is young! Go for it.

Thank you @Bingowingslikeasheildofsteel i will definitely look into that

I might have answered the wrong way. I meant YABU to think you’re too old at 32. Have you looked at apprenticeships?

Good luck.

Is 32 to old to try for this career?

It is not! And I don't even know detail of the social worker career, but trust me, 32 is not late.
You might want to speak to your local college about access to HE.

You will NOT get laughed at! So many people are catching up to their studies or changing much later than at 32.

I am sure social workers will be along soon to tell you details, but I would certainly start with the college for the access course. So you can get on your degree. Meanwhile you use your carer skill and volunteer to gain experience.

Good luck!!!

No, of course you're not too old.

Fantastic news about your recovery and building the life you have shows your determination to succeed and support others which will put you in great stead. You should be proud of yourself already.

I retrained for a new career at 38 so even allowing for slightly longer to qualify if you have to take pre-courses, you'd still have a head start on me! As long as your health is up to it I'd say go for it!

It's a course a significant amount of people do when older. Life experience can really help when working with the families.

Btw I did access at 30! It's not late

@PeterPomegranate thank you :) i have been looking regularly for apprenticeships with my local social services but there doesn't seem to be any at the moment

It sounds like you’ve spent your twenties looking after other people - what about your hopes and ambitions? Absolutely go for it.

Absolutely not OP, you should go for it - social care is an understaffed area and you will bring huge amounts of valuable life experience that younger candidates won’t have.

Go for it!

One of my closest friends had no qualifications beyond GCSE at 36. At 46 she has a degree, a PGCE and is one of the best secondary school teachers I know. Her extra ‘life experience’ massively helped - age didn’t work against her.

Have a look at this for longer-term planning:

www.gov.uk/guidance/step-up-to-social-work-information-for-applicants

Thank you all so much for replies so far very much appreciated. I feel better already!!

@CatOnLaptop thank you 😊

You got more working years ahead of you than behind you - still a spring chicken! Go for it!

I'm 32 and currently retraining part time for a career that is totally the opposite of anything I have ever done. It'll take me another 5 years or so to qualify. I'm far from the youngest on the course (although the only one that wants this specific career) and I'm so happy I finally went for it after a few years of thinking about it.

Go for it, OP, and congratulations on your recovery.

I'm 31 this year - have just got my gcse & my access to Health professions from college - have been accepted into uni for September to be a social worker!

So if I can do it at 31 - you can 100% do it at 32!

@MrTumbleTumble wow that's inspiring. Good for you!!

After reading these replies it's given me the final boost i needed

You're only too old when they put you in the ground. First, I would say early thirties is pretty much your prime, at least it was mine. Second, you have a good 30+ years of working life ahead of you. Make the most of who you are and who you can be.

@butterfly190 amazing well done 😊 and thank you

I am a social worker (I am also 32!) It is definitely not too old to start the path. I qualified several years ago in my 20s but there were all sorts of people on the course.. including a few in their 40s. Even if you qualified late 30s you could have 30 years left to work!

It's a fantastic job. I love it. Go for it.

How is 32 too old you are barely out of your 20's? I did my NHS degree at 45 and have had a great career since.
I always get hired because I have maturity and confidence.
You have to remember that retirement is much much later now. I can't retire unil I'm 67 you will probably be working longer than that so you habe many more years available to you.

@busface999 thank you. I really don't feel like there's anything else in the world I'd rather do

@madcatladyforever are we allowed to know what your NHS career is now?