Please can you tell me about your achievements later in life?

[CuriousLadyBird]

Hi all,

I'm having a weird crisis and I'm annoyed at myself when I should be overjoyed.

I've been accepted onto a registered mental health nursing course which is an amazing opportunity and I'm so grateful but I can't help thinking I'm too old which is ridiculous.

I'm 28 and a mum of 2. I feel behind my peers because I couldn't go to university when my friends did as my dad was elderly and my mum is autistic/learning difficulties so I've been working since I was 17. I've worked retail, call centre, admin etc all at NMW and there's nothing wrong with that but I've always wanted to work within the healthcare sector.

Once I was out of the house I did apply to university but then covid hit and I got pregnant, then my dad died, my mum needed a lot more care, I got MH issues and somehow another baby appeared so It had to take a bit of a backseat and it feels like years have passed me by and I'm in a similar position.

I just keep thinking oh I'll be 32 when I qualify, what's the point etc but I know that's like silly thoughts because I'm gonna be 32 anyway so I might as well be a 32 year old nurse but the thoughts just won't leave.

So please can people kindly share their achievements that were a little bit later on and how it feels, how it's going etc just for a bit of encouragement.

Thank you

I'm 34 and currently training towards a pilot's license.
Loads of people change course through their life. I'm a completely different person to who I was at 24, and that's only 10 years ago.

I did my Occupational Therapy degree 2004-2007 aged 29-32. In no way did I feel this was later in life, if anything a bit of life experience helped. I think with mental health nursing you'll probably find the same. Good luck!

Mate, some day you're going to be so embarrassed about how incredibly young you were when you asked this question.

Me, I am currently smashing a masters in a difficult STEM subject as part of a career change at age 40 and proud as punch of myself.

I started my degree at age 28 when my then 5 year old started school. You're never too old! :)

I left school at 15, worked my way up to a decent management position, and went back to education when my youngest started school (he was as 5, my oldest was 7, and I was 28). I took O levels/GCSE’s and A levels, including learning a language from scratch, over the next 4 years, then jacked in my job and went to university at 32. Graduated at 35, and started a career in a completely new-to-me field.

I did a two year part-time Masters at 40, whilst working full-time. At 48, I decided I wanted a different career so emigrated to get a professional qualification at an overseas university. Spent a few years working in a couple of countries, came back to the UK in my mid-50s and carried on working in that third career for ten more years. Retired, got bored, started a small consultancy business, and now, a year or so later, I’m thinking of starting a PhD next year.

You’ve a lot of years working ahead of you - take every opportunity life offers to make that time interesting.

Your life experience will make you a much better nurse, no question.

I think you are incredible and inspirational for making it this far. Well done on the offer!

I finished my distance learning degree at 58 and my friend did his Law degree at a "proper" uni at 56 so you might be classed as "Mature" but you're just a "whipper snapper" really 🤣🤣

Hi! Go for it! I know it doesn’t feel like it but you have stacks of time. Good for you.

I missed out on uni the first time round because I became ill in the middle of my A levels, missed the boat and ended up in a professional career purely by chance tbh. Five years ago I decided to re-train and I’m just finishing my Masters dissertation. I’m 43. With a fair wind I’ve got another thirty years of work in me so it might as well be something I love ❤️

All the very best to you!

My DM trained to be a teacher in her 30's, needed an A level so had to do that first then 4 years teacher training. She'd been a SAHM with the odd very p/t (cleaning, shop work type) job thrown in here and there so it was a pretty massive undertaking really. She went on to have a fantastic 30 year teaching career, was very highly regarded and has now taken early retirement on a pretty decent pension. Don't doubt yourself OP, you're definitely not 'too old', I'm 48 and currently considering completely retraining so I certainly hope not!

I am slowly working my way through a degree and I will be 54 when I graduate. I so wish that all the times I had thought about doing it, previously, in my 20’s and 30’s, I had actually got on with it! I love learning and my experience as a mature student has only been positive. Go for it!

i think it’s definitely a bit of fear of the unknown, or maybe doubt in your ability. Don’t make my mistake! I wanted to retrain in social work but kept feeling that I wouldn’t manage it with the kids or I was too old. I didn’t do it & im almost 38 now. My current situation wouldn’t allow it. You mate be loads older than others that are newly qualified, but how much life experience do you bring to the table that those younger don’t have! Also, pride that you’ve gone and achieved that, alongside kids and all the other demands on your time! Believe in yourself & go for it

I got my dream job aged 55. You are so young I'm smiling at the notion of 28 being too old to begin anything!

Retrained as a teacher at 49/50, with 2 primary kids (late starter there too!). I’m now 55 & loving my new career.
I had some gynae issues last year & the nurse looking after me was a career changer too - she retrained in her 40s with 2 small children too.
You’re never too old & I think it’s a good role model to show your kids this.

I went to uni at a similar age and qualified as a social worker aged 31. Been working as a social worker for 5 years now and I have no regrets. I think being this age and having life experience and more confidence than I did at 21 makes me better at my job and more resilient. I imagine mental health nursing will be similar, you will be working with people with lots of trauma and people who can be very challenging. Obviously everyone is different and some people are great in these roles in their early 20s but I often think I wouldnt have been able to do this in my early 20s.

Always did low wage menial jobs, DH finally convinced me I could do a law degree. I started my law degree at 35, graduated at 38, and qualified as a solicitor at 42 achieving a lifelong dream. Now working in a field of law I love and earning more than I ever thought possible for me.

You won't ever regret doing it. Good luck with your studies.

I started my masters degree when I was 29 and graduated at 30. A fair proportion of the cohort had gone straight to uni and done their undergrad then gone straight into a masters programme so were 21/22 years old, but there was a chunk of us between 28-36 too - I’d probably say 12 of us out of a group of 50. Even though I was juggling parenthood at the same time, I do think those of us who were older found the demands of the course easier than our younger counterparts.

I didn't go to university, ended up in an admin role, but did professional exams which I finished at 34 (ended up chartered and then as a fellow of my professional body), then at 38 changed career and did another set of professional exams. Now at 43 I'm looking to make another change and have been upskilling in a totally different field in my spare time. Never ever too late, but you're absolutely no age so you have nothing to worry about!

Oh my god, I know this has been said so many times already, but you are VERY young!

In my job I occasionally teach nurses, and I can assure you, they are a whole range of ages when they study. So I doubt you'd even be the oldest person in your cohort. I also know lots of student nurses with kids. Also, in my view, the older students are a joy to teach compared to the 18 year olds because they know why they're there, and what they want to get out of it. They don't have time to faff about, and they engage really well. So, go for it!

My friend did her nursing degree at 32. Finished 3 years later and by 40 is a senior sister for the respiratory team at the local hospital. My dh started uni at 34 and graduated at 37. He was working full time too.

My mum started nursing training at 40. Passed the prescribing medicine course at 60

The one of the best lawyers in my team only started studying at 46

People bring all kinds of useful life experience when they start a career later in life

When I done my degree over half the class were mature students!

I qualified as a teacher at 37 as a single parent with two kids at 49 I'm a headteacher .
It feels great , I also feel it's been a good example to my kids .
Go for it 😁

Just qualifying as a counsellor at 50......the youngest person on the course was 28, the oldest 65...

I understand that to you, 28 and 22 seem so far apart, but from over here in 40s land it’s hardly any difference. I only found my career at 26 and now that fact is completely irrelevant. Two of my good friends each started their own business in the last couple of years, in their 40s. They still have years to enjoy the benefits. I actually think that starting this with some experience of life behind you will give you a great advantage. I hope it all goes well!