Is it to late for me?

[IAmRachelGreep]

For wanting to better my life?

I’ve made bad decisions, I didn’t listen or care at school and quite frankly never achieved anything since. I’m a hard worker and have been since the day I left school but it’s not enough any more.
I feel thick, I feel stupid and I’m ashamed of myself.

I’m 29 and quite frankly have nothing to talk about with anyone because I don’t know anything. I feel like a child when people talk to me. Am I to late to try and get myself an education? Go back to college and then University and actually make something of my life? I’m a mom and a carer and that’s it , I don’t even have 1 friend. I have nothing going for me and I feel education is where I need to start.

Is there anyone that can guide me or offer any advice?

Am I to late? Am I just a lost cause?

@pursuedbyablackdog

What are you interested in? What makes you stop and think? Do you like being with people? Do you prefer working on your own? What sort of job can you see yourself doing? How flexible are yo7 with child care arrangements?

Mental health is definitely something I’m interested in and I prefer lone working. Being left to my own devices, my own routine etc. But I think that’s where I need to push myself to meet new people also. I think I need I research roles within this sector and kind of work towards the one I’m interested in. Childcare is pretty good too x

Read read read

I went back to college and then uni at 30 as a lone parent to 2 kids age 2 & 5. It’s bit been easy but I’ve almost qualified now.
If you want to stay in health and social care there’s plenty of grants and bursaries to help you and there’s childcare grants on top of loans etc.
Look at the most local feasible uni’s and see what courses they offer, and see what they ask for in terms of admission criteria - most likely an access course.
You could do mental health nursing, occupational therapy, CBT, and you’ve 35 plus years of your working life left you may as well enjoy it.

I don’t go into bookshops (although I should) 😳 when I did read I liked either crime or a love story. Silly I know x

It’s not silly. What do you like about them? What else do you get interested in?

Future Learn offers a lot of short, free online courses.

@snowy0wl yes I would! That’s just given me a good feeling. I’ll also look into this tomorrow. Wow thank you

@WishingHopingThinkingPraying

Read read read

Any recommendations?

If mental health is the area that you want to stay in, how about going to uni and doing a degree in mental health nursing? It'd be a tough course, not only academically but also with the placements, but would be highly rewarding and you'd never be out of work.

@IAmRachelGreep

Thank you everybody.

So I work within mental health sector as a carer at the moment. I’d like to continue within this but not sure as what? I find it fascinating (I hope that doesn’t offend anyone).

Any pointers would be hugely appreciated. Thank you for being so lovely

Sounds incredibly random but have a look on job sites and see what kind of jobs might interest you. You can then look at what kind of qualifications and experience they require and take it from there. If you enjoy your work in mental health, perhaps looking at mental health nursing might be a good initial starting point.

Also the 5k grant mentioned previously isn’t just for nurses, but it isn’t to pay your tuition fees and can’t be used for that. You apply for your tuition fee loan as normal.

I’ve lost myself and now I have no idea what interests me. I have little imagination too.

I think when I read crime it just fascinates me and makes me want to read more and more. With romance I get lost in the book, it completely takes me away from my own life.

Let me tell you something. Whether you study or work for something, the years will pass. In 3 years you will be 31/32 whether you study or not. So don't ever think you are too "old" (which you are not) my husband is 29 and just started a whole new degree. I am 27, and in second year of my degree.

If you feel out of your depth chatting to people, look what's happening on the news, social media etc. Even PM me, I'll happily be your friend and help

I think a degree such as health and social work might fit you, you could be come a social worker, social workers often work alone, visiting etc and just do their case load. Maybe have a look online to see if it interest you?

Woah. “I’m a mum and carer and that’s it”..??
That is huge.
I understand that being more educated would make you feel more valuable but I think this does deeper than that.
Lots of people aren’t privileged enough to have the opportunity to get an education but still feel purposeful and valued. Friendships are important. Family. People who make you feel you matter to them.
I don’t want to argue that educating yourself is not a worthy pursuit but you are more than just that. You are a carer - that I’m itself tells me so much about you. I just wonder if you are suffering from what lots of mother’s and carers suffer from which is feeling unseen and unappreciated.

I think with mental health nursing I heard there is a clinical side? Which I just couldn’t do but again that could be hearsay so I will research tomorrow.

Yes it definitely seems tough but I need to push myself. I want my daughter to be proud of me the way I am of my mom x

Try The lottery.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with reading novels to escape normal life. I do the same with TV. We all need a break from reality sometimes.

Here you go

www.open.ac.uk/courses/careers/mental-health

The Open University attracts many mature students returning to an education they missed, and you can do a lot of the courses from home which would suit your domestic life.

If you want to acclimatise slowly, try evening classes at your local Further Education College. They will offer classes that are just for interest (Ecology, a language, reading groups) and classes leading to qualifications you may have missed at school.

In my late 20's I took Geography and Biology at evening classes because I regretted having dropped them at school when I was 14.

Absolutely not too late!

There loads of ways you can learn more and find interests which aren't formal education. Such as podcasts, radio 4, bbc4, you tube, books, Facebook groups, hobbies, real life groups when we're allowed, evening classes and online courses like future learn.

You're not worthless because you know less. Also a lot of people do front to and act like they know more than they do. But I really think education is important for yourself and confidence as well as getting a good job.

29 is really not old. Go for it. Even if it's slow progress its moving on the right direction.

If you have a iPhone there is a podcast app that has a chart you can browse through to find something that interests you, or you can search by category. There are podcasts on Spotify too if you don’t have an iPhone. I’m sure there are other apps too

This BSc in Mental Health Nursing is through open university and is part time so you can juggle work/child care. If you’re already in the field and sponsored by your employer it’s even easier:
www.openuniversity.edu/courses/qualifications/r39-mh#course-details

I completely agree with @Somewhereelsewhere.

OP - I hope this thread is showing you how amazing you are. It’s nearly midnight on New Year’s Eve and you have managed to engage many people who are genuinely interested in you. I’m certainly finding your enthusiasm for change quite inspiring and look forward to hearing what you decide to do.

Don't put yourself down !

Being a mum and working as a carer are really important .

And nothing wrong with enjoying crime or romantic fiction either .

It is absolutely not too late for you to go back to college but do this because you want to not because you think you should .

Hi OP. You are so young and sound great. Have you thought about training as a counsellor? There are NVQ courses you can do that can lead to degree pathways? Not sure if you have GCSEs, etc?

Otherwise, you maybe could train as a psychotherapist? It’s less clinical than mental health training. It might suit you if you love working with people. After a few years, a psychotherapist can charge £50-£100 per hour and you can work for yourself or as part of a practice.

Otherwise, you could train as an art therapist or play therapist to work with children?

Or alternatively, get super-fit while training as a Pilates or yoga teacher. They charge £70 per hour round my way for private sessions and again, it’s flexible work.

You are young - trust me. The world is your oyster. Good luck!!!

You have time. My friend quit her banking job and went back to college to do a medical degree at 30 ( is now a doctor and happy).. I did a masters at 26 in order to do a career pivot... but if you do do this, do the research and figure out what job you want first, then decide what course you need to take to get to that end goal

@IAmRachelGreep

Thank you everybody.

So I work within mental health sector as a carer at the moment. I’d like to continue within this but not sure as what? I find it fascinating (I hope that doesn’t offend anyone).

Any pointers would be hugely appreciated. Thank you for being so lovely

Could you look into training as a mental health nurse?

Good luck whatever you decide, you’re still so young you can retrain and follow a new path

Why do you feel you would be unable to do the clinical side of mental health nursing?
Are you concerned about having to administer medications, such as injections?