To be too old for a career change?

[36and3]

I’m 37 and I’ve been a primary school teacher for 12 years. I also have three children so the school holidays are fab!

However, since hitting 30 I’ve wanted to be a midwife but I’ve put it off for several reasons: back to uni for three years, not earning during training, salary drop, unsocial hours.

But as I near 40 I’m wondering if I’ll regret not doing it. Would I be the oldest in the cohort? It’s not like I’d be interested in a typical uni lifestyle!!

Who can talk some sense into me?

Your not too old

My mum retrained in her 30s

I may retrain in my 40s

I changed career at 40, you can do it!

I know people who’ve retrained in their 50s. 37 is very much not too young!

Dya mind me asking what role u changed from / to ?

I changed career at 59. Do it!

You’re not to old. I retrained in my 30s and went back to uni to work in an NHS job. I was also a teacher and don’t regret leaving the profession.

I changed career at 50. I haven’t regretted it for a second.

Definitely not to old!

You potentially have another 30 years of working, it’s definitely not too late! Go for it! Teaching isn’t going to get any better any time soon!

I don’t understand why you wouldn’t do this if you can swing it financially and for childcare? You need to think hard on both, but other than that, crack on, of course you aren’t too old

I’m mid career change and I’m 44.
was at a recruitment assessment day where I could have been the mum of all the other applicants, and was older than the recruiter by 10yrs.

on the bright side my chat is much more interesting than the 17yr olds 😂

I was a teacher. I retrained in my 50s.

I changed from book keeping to Firefighter.. quite a change!

Eeek!! Maybe I should try and line up some work experience. I doubt that’s easy though. I’ve booked onto a local uni’s open day too.

There’s a whole board to talk sense into you, @36and3:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/maturestudents

The whole point of the board’s existence is to encourage anyone who asks Am I too old to …?

37???? Get it done OP. You're a mere child !

My mum trained to be a midwife when she was in her mid 40s, she got a first, despite never having studied beyond school (and not for over 25 yrs) she was one of the oldest but she still made some great friends on her course and worked for 20 years as an independent midwife, she loved it and her age was never an issue. I’d go for it. Midwifery is especially suited to older career changers I think, because there’s a clear vocational pathway.