To be nervous about going back to uni?

[Killerpinkflamingo]

At the start of the pandemic, I was very unhappy in my job, so I decided to apply to uni to do a masters in Speech and Language Therapy as a mature student (I am 37). The course is an intense masters and lasts for 2 years. I have completed the first year and am due to go back on Monday.

The first year was hard because the majority of it was online, and I felt very out of practice with studying. However, I got through it with good grades, and I was elated! It really did wonders for my confidence, despite being intense and at times, bloody difficult.

But, after having a few weeks off over summer, I am terrified of going back on Monday. I thought I would be excited to return, but I feel so anxious (I do have a history of anxiety anyway and take antidepressants). I think it’s because we have to go in person to the building for lectures and seminars, and I suddenly feel so self conscious about being an older student. All my class mates are lovely (I saw them in person last year at placements and also had lots of meetings online), but most of them are a lot younger than me, and I can’t shake this feeling of nervousness. I just keep thinking I must be mad and should just leave and get a job. I know this would be madness because I am halfway through, but I can’t shake the feeling.

Please could someone come along and give me some reassurance?

I very much doubt you are the only one feeling anxious, I’m anxious going anywhere, but am getting better. Hopefully once you catch up with your class mates, it will all become easier. Well done for changing career and doing what you really want, that takes courage.

Thank you so much @Mindymomo, I really appreciate your kind words! I think being stuck studying in my spare room for the past year and not going into uni in person has made me feel like I’m starting all over at the beginning, nerves-wise. I think “I am doing what I really want, that takes courage” may have to become my new mantra

I understand OP, I'm going back next week to do another year of a course (also a mature student) and I'm more worried. Last year, while really strange was much easier being at home and I got comfortable.

This year we are in full days and expected to wear masks all day. Obviously we will have ventilation breaks but it is difficult. Also, because of working from home last year I don't really know many people, so it's like starting from scratch all over again.

Hopefully after the first week or two we will get used to it.

@CreepingDeath I could have written your post! We are in full days with masks all day too. I found last year isolating in some ways but also in other ways it was great, being able to watch lectures and do exams from the comfort of my own home. I definitely feel like I am starting all over again from scratch!

I’m sure we will feel better after the first week or two, like you say It’s just dealing with the nerves in the mean time!! What course are you doing?

I'm third year now,my first year was completely normal up until the march lockdown, second year totally online and now we're all back in next week, alot of us are feeling nervous about this although our uni has made facemasks optional for the moment, I'm one of the oldest on my course too and to be honest the only time I really notice this is when we discuss values and ethics as the ones I was raised with are not the same as the ones that the younger students were, so that is pretty interesting 😁 you will be fine, everyone is nervous to some degree

Thank you @kazillionaire Definitely sounds like some interesting discussions about values and ethics! What a crazy uni experience you have had - being in as normal, then pandemic lockdowns, then back in again. I’m sure when we have finished we will look back on our uni experience in disbelief And with pride that we got through it!