Nervous about my academic skills?

[Idontlikelambchop]

Hi, I’m just looking to see if anyone has ever been in a similar situation. I’m 25, I have 2 children and I’m a SAHP, I want to go into nursing, I have for a long time, I aplied for an access course at 19, but I found out I was pregnant so decided to carry on working full time so I could provide enough money as partner was at university at that time.
Now several years later and I want to reapply, but my confidence has gone right down, I don’t feel like I’ll understand anything!
I didn’t do great at school, I managed 4 A-C GCSEs, but I didn’t get my maths. I was a bit daft at school, slept with my teacher, got into lots of trouble and obviously it made all of my other teachers hate me, making my last few months at school hell. Telling me mid exam I needed to go to the head’s office after the exam finished. So I don’t know if I would have done better if I had been left to get on with them, but that happened most exams, I think eventually it was being done just to make me nervous.
Well I’ll need to do my maths. And my driving. I have motivation. I’ve lost 4 stone this year. I’ve done lots of volunteering, done some little courses like paediatric first aid, a course to help women with post natal depression etc. But I just don’t feel actually clever enough...
If I fail the access course what can I do after? Just retake? Or will anywhere take me in through clearing. There’s 4 universities in travelling distance of me, I don’t know if I could get in through clearing? I’m just very confused.
Any help appreciated!

Wow it sounds like you were really let down at school. Your teachers should have been more responsible, sleeping with a student is surely a criminal offence if not certainly against policy. The other teachers should've known you were vulnerable instead of making you into a bad student or out of control teen or whatever other label they put on you.
I think its amazing you've got to where you are tbh, you are much more capable than you think. I would get some advice from the course uni where you want to take the nursing qualification. You might only need your gcse in maths along with some practical experience, you might not have to do a full access course.
Don't give up though

He did end up being sacked but they kept saying that was my fault too, I don’t think I minded sharing the blame 50/50 but I was not there alone and I got blamed for it all. He even sent me very abusive messages afterwards, telling me I was a whore. I was very lucky I had a small group of very supportive friends who got me through it.
I think advice from the uni would be a good plan, I will also start my maths and my driving in September probably.
thank you!

I'm a uni lecturer. I think prospective students like you are great. You know what you want to do and you have the determination to go and do it. I would consider your will to learn just as important as your ability.

I second the advice to talk to the uni. Go to an open day and chat to the course leaders, and also find out about the additional academic support available. There is a lot more academic support open to our students than there was when I was at uni myself, and if you engage and ask for help the Support services can be wonderful. Go for it!

thank you, it’s massively helpful to have people telling me that there is some help because I very much thought it was all down to me to figure everything out.
It’s actually made me excited and not petrified! Thank you!

As long as you ask for help (we aren't mind readers!) you will get support, and staff do want every student to succeed. Sounds like going to uni a bit older will be right for you. Hats off to you. I hope you are able to do this. You should be really proud of yourself! (I'm sorry too that you were let down so badly at school.)

Yes of course you must do it! Don't let your previous crappy experience dictate what you do with your life

Another University lecturer here- and hedges is absolutely right. I love having " mature" students in my class and there is loads of help out there. Get your lecturers onside by talking to them about anything you're struggling with. It sounds as though you had a bit of a false start at school but that's over now. Absolutely go for it! Also you'll find there will be other people at University just like you.