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?

I left school without the qualifications I needed to go to university because I faffed about and didn’t put in the effort. I started by going to evening classes at the local college when I was 24. I progressed to an advanced-entry BA, then I did an MSc, both online so I could keep working full time. I’m now 30 and doing a full time PhD, which I could never have imagined 10 years ago. I’m also not the oldest person in my cohort - not by a long shot!

You’re definitely not too old to go back into education and find your passion.

@sleepyhead

Dh finally qualified for his dream career last month.

He had to start by getting qualifications that most people get aged 16.

He's 48 so, no 29 is not too late.

That must have taken a lot of strength. Well done him. Dh got put off by similar by the sound of it.

Mental health nursing sounds ideal for you.
Look on the NHS careers website for a route in.
There's a lot of jobs you can do from there.

@craignow - I'm enormously proud of him

There had been what seemed like an insurmountable barrier in the way of him for years, so when that was suddenly taken out of the way a few years back, suddenly anything seemed possible.

Just goes to show you shouldn't write anyone off (and even more importantly, don't write yourself off!).

It makes me sad to read your OP. There are not many people who could do your job. If you want to go into mental health nursing you already have brilliant real-life experience of mental health issues. You also have maturity and years of experience of being responsible for a whole other person. That gives you a huge advantage over school leavers who might have better grades on paper.
There is absolutely nothing wrong at all with wanting to improve yourself, but please don't discount what you have already achieved.
The most interesting and engaging people (to me) are always the ones who are passionate and really care about their work/hobby/special interest. It doesn't have to be academic to be interesting. Spend some time getting to know yourself better and what you really care about, then go from there.

Never too late. Don't be so hard on yourself

To your child you are everything. That is something. Don't underestimate yourself.

Start easy - join your local library, make regular visits even if only to look and see - my local is truly an endless mine of information, education, night school / day school, local,national and international news. Info on local groups looking for interested people - there is no commitment to doing or joining anything but it would give you a chance to "sniff around"
Even if it is only an hour or so now and again, you will find a way!