Am I too old??

[happyhappymummy]

Im not sure where to post.
Im a single mum to 3 girls. I left school with no qualifications. Did my hairdressing level 2 and then had my children and have always worked around them and my soon to be ex husband.
Im now in a position where I can go back to work or study as my youngest starts school in sept. If I work its going to be something that I have always done, but dont enjoy.
Im wondering am I too old to become a beauty therapist? Im not accademic so cant study aything too intense. This I feel I would enjoy as Im very artstic.
Im 34 soon to be 35. Iv spoke to the college and they have said of course your not too old we have all ages on the course. This is fab but Im thinking more of the employment at the end of it. I do need to earn as I have a mortgage to pay. At the moment I have help with it. This is my opportunity to do something but worried Im too old??

My mum re trained as a beauty therapist in her late forties. So nope you're not too old
Depending on what you study though it can be a bit academic, massage for example requires anatomy and physiology at certain levels. Good luck

Go for it! Life is too short to not do what you want if you have the chance.

I'm ten years older than you and in a similar position. I'm going back to college to re-train as my youngest also goes to school this year.

If you can afford it, really want to do it and have job prospects at the end of it, do it,

Thankyou both :)
Well done to your mum Amen! When I say academic Im not as bad as I thought (as I mis-spells academic) I mean I couldnt go and study in Law or medicine. I think Im about average.
Good luck PTA in whatever it is you decide to study. I do wonder about career prospects at the end of this course as they usually like the fresh faced younger model haha! Im not saying Im not fresh faced ha! You know what I mean though!

34?!!! You're but a young whippersnapper

I'm 37 and currently revising for exams at the moment (Oh, whoops I'm actually on mumsnet again, aren't I?! Must get back to work ... )

I'm in the second year of a degree, DP is also studying and DS is 3.6.

It's not easy (especially as we're both studying!) but it's great and I don't regret it for a second! Plus I've made some good friends at the uni with some of the other mature students.

Might be worth knowing that as I'm a full-time uni student, we get 80% of our childcare paid. I don't know how that relates to the course you're looking at but perhaps worth investigating?

Haha that made me laugh 'whippersnapper' never heard this before :)
Thankyou threeleftfeet.
Well done you and well done to your DP :)
I could never do a degree but beauty I think I could, its very much me.
My daughters will all be at school in sept so chilcare wont be a problem. Travelling costs are the most I would have to think of really.
Its a 2 year course and Im hoping it pays of more than anything.

You are never too old!!

I am a Uni lecturer and my 'mature' students are the best ones I have!! I teach on a fairly vocational course (lots of placements) and the students who say they are not academic or who don't think they can cope with the degree inevitably achieve the best results and are the ones who go on to get all the fabulous jobs.

Good luck!!

Aw thats fab GotMyLittleLamb :) thanks so good to hear!
Can I ask what you teach?

:) thanks happyhappymummy

Noooooo! Not too old at all. I am 36 with 3 children under 5 and am a year into my PhD. Yeah it's tough juggling childcare and study but it just makes me more focussed and let's face it mothers are masters of multi-tasking!
Personally I'd prefer to go to an 'older' beauty therapist to get my bits waxed rather than an 18 year old!!!

Well done OverthinkerAnon. Wow! I take my hat off to you this I could never do!
Oh that gives me hope. I never really thought of it like that :) Lets hope the employers think that way too :)

Hi happy I teach a random degree called Community Leadership it's quite unique.

And I have now totally outed myself as my pic and details are somewhere on that page

Should have added that the majority of our students don't have A-Levels but have lots of experience and a true commitment to working within the community. It's very ace and is something I'm very passionate about as it gives students a chance to experience their potential jobs while learning hugely transferable skills.

Oops, shall stop rambling, I'm not on a recruitment drive or anything....

definitely not too old. Go for it!

Sounds good GotMyLittleLamb :)
Thanks sarahseashell :)

I work in a hospital and we have nursing and midwifery students in their forties and very occasionally some in their early fifties on placement with us!

Thanks susie :) Yeah nursing is very popular. I started an access course when my husband left. I couldnt complete it under my circumstances. To be a midwife is a dream job but I think thats where it will stay in my dreams :( It was so so hard.
Im not sure how popular beauty therapy would be for a mature student but the college did say they had mature students. Not sure how many go on to work after.

I am nearly 49,and starting my 1st time studying P/T at Uni doing a degree

Well done crazynanna :)

now I see it written down...I am pooing my pants

Aw you will be fine! What are you going to study?

Just having a wobble.

Doing Health and Social Policy...but I have not studied for nearly 30 years a while...so I have enrolled for the Summer Study Skills course at the Uni in August.

But see...you are soooo not too old

i'm in my 40s and have nearly finished my teacher training
still not got a job for next year tho, I'm panicking about that
but no you are DEF not too old!

Fab crazynanna :) Good luck!!
Thanks wild :) Im sure something will come up you have worked too hard for it not to :)

my auntie retrained as a hairdresser at 57! she always wanted to do it but her mum said it wasn't a good enough job. She went to college with all the school leavers, loved it, got a job which she really loves - and she's popular mainly because she's good but also because she's older. Also, one of my best friends recently landed his dream job as a train driver at the age of 44 - he's like a kid again because he's so enthusiastic and grateful to be doing what he always wanted to do. I'm a uni lecturer, every mature student I have is a bonus because they are good, focused and brill with all the other students. Loads of mature students do beauty therapy/ alternative therapy things. Think of all your clients - don't you think you've got loads to offer? Go for it and good luck xx

Never too old.

I'm 41 and going to start studying British Sign Language in September as I want to be an interpreter for deaf children and adults. Completely different career from what I'm doing presently.

Good Luck.