To do a degree I’ll probably never use

[Thescaredlittletoaster]

I’m 32 and have never gotten a degree but I’d really like to. I’m dyslexic and this really held me back confidence wise at school although I did okay in my GCSEs I felt I wouldn’t be good enough for college/uni.
Now I’ve finally found my confidence would I be unreasonable to do a degree in theology even though I doubt I’ll ever use it?

I'd love to do a degree in History but I work in Intensive care and just don't have the time. The only way I could do it would be to reduce my hours but we are short-staffed at the best of times. Maybe when the kids have left home, they're mid to late teens now, I could find something else in the NHS which would offer shorter hours.

But yes, definately go for it.

I had a degree and was teaching that subject. I had an interest in another subject and did it just because I like learning new things. No reason for you not to take the opportunity to do something you would enjoy. RS Peters, philosopher, said something like, we should not view education as a final destination, but instead enjoy the journey getting there.

Gosh, reading Theology while working on a smallholding is my idea of heaven! (I was combining two similar activities in my early thirties and it was one of the busiest but most satisfying periods of my life.)

Sounds a lovely plan, OP. My only concern might be that you haven’t fully recovered your confidence if you don’t believe you’d ever use the degree. As a PP has said, eloquently, it will influence every day of the rest of your life on a personal level - and if you enjoy the academic work you may be surprised at the doors it opens.

Btw, you may like to know that there is a dedicated Mature Study and Retraining board, here:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

You may find it inspiring to read some of the threads!

Hi @Thescaredlittletoaster , we can see you're getting some good advice here in AIBU but if you'd like us to move your thread over to our Mature Study & Retraining topic, (as suggested by Edmontine) we're sure you'll get plenty more.

Just let us know if you'd like us to move it.