Should I go back to college?

[SantasPersonalClown]

I couldn't decide whether to put this in Lone parents or Student so I put it here.
Ds is going to school in January(sob my little boy is growing up!) and I will have the day to myself.
How easy is it to get back into learning when you're on your own? I am thinking of an access course in Health Professions hopefully going onto Physiotherapy.
My only fear is timetables, work demands etc as Ds is autistic and takes up quite a bit of time and energy!!
I have no work skills as such and feel that now I'm ready to learn without the faffing around I did when I was younger.
Any advice/stories/comments would be appreciated.

Does no one have any advice?

I have no practical advice, but just go for it.
Sometimes the only way to get things done, is to sign up for them, as you know it is feasible in theory and then wait for the practical problems and sort them out as they happen.Most things can be sorted out although having a support team of sorts can be helpful
Good Luck

I have a friend!!
I suppose you're right, it's just the worry of being out of the loop for so long.

But think of all the extra skills you have gained over the last few years, probably able to multi-task superbly and you are an adult learner, so very self-motivated in comparison to the average student.
The slightly more mature student has so much to give to any course and you will benefit doing something for yourself

I have just gone back to studying and even though it is really hard work I am enjoying it a lot.

Just recently I have had to consider giving up due to financial reasons but it will be a very very last resort I enjoy it that much.

Go for it.

Thanks for the vote of confidence!! I can multi-task with the best of them and as I'm blowing my trumpet a bit, I have a great deal more patience thanks to ds, can deal with stress better etc.
I've just asked for a prospectus from my local college and any information on working around ds' school hours, money etc.
I suppose I've got nothing to loose really, might as well give it a go.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that malarky!!

As far as I can see on the website, they will bend over backwards to try and accomodate anyone, plus the course I am looking at can be done full or part time so I could probably get away without a childminder for ds.
It is something I have had an interest in for a long time so shouldn't be bored or anything plus I was always good at biology and anatomy at Alevel standard so I should be ok.

DONT BE PHYSIO!!!! Do OT instead!!!!

90% unemployment in new grads reported in therapy weekly magazine.

Not sure OT any better, but i am one and like to do my bit for recruiting!!

What's the difference Ipod? Its just the general area of interest for me so am willing to be swayed!!

Although jobs in health industry do tend to vary year by year, so although there may be too many physios this year, in 5 years who knows
ie in obs aand gynae training, they told all the trainees 10 years ago, there weren't enough jobs, so those who could should retrain in a diff speciality, then 5 years later they had too few.

True although I am secretly hoping that I will end up being the England football team physio!! Or failing that Spurs will be a good fall back!!

I suspect the Englandt football team or spurs will never need an OT but we should ask the expert ipod if she thinks it might ever happen
OT stands for Occupational Therapist and they work in more areas than a physio per se, to help people maintain their independence(i think)

best way to think opf it is physio is about how you get somewher, and OT is what do you do when you get there!!

ie Great, you can stand up, sit down but can you go to the loo and wipe your own arse!!! Ot sorts out your daily activity stuff from the moment you wake up and want to get out of bed, till the moment you want to get back in - and everything in between!

I've worked with someone in a minimally aware state following car crash and the most active 90yearolds you have ever seen, and loads in between!

I just want to be able to go to the Engalnd matches without having to pay a fortune!!
OT sound good too, it's all in the same area.
Couldn't be a nurse, I hate needles! Yet I have piercings and a tattoo?!
iPod, how hands on is OT? Is it a lot of paperwork and office type stuff or do you get to work with people more often?

typical day in an acute ward I was seeing about 7-8 patients for assment and treatment - a couple of days a week I would be out of the hospital and taking patients into their own homes to assess suitablity for returning ie do they need equipment, adaptation, rehousing.

Fair bit of paperwork but not too extreme.

I loved my neuro rehab placement - strokes and head injury. Just googled that patient I told you about in the minimally aware state and after private rehab in london she is now able to stand and has got feeling back in here body!! It is so amazing to know that I might have played even a small part her her page3

So it's safe to assume that you work in a hospital or clinic?
That sound pretty good, The kind of thing I'd love to do, helping people get back to some degree of normality in life.
I can handle paperwork, I just don't want it to be all I do IYKWIM.

definately!

I'm still so chuffed about the girl in that link!! I Knew she was making a good recovery when I left but she wasn't sitting on her own or pointing to words rekliably at that point.

www.cot.co.uk might give you some more info about where and in what areas OT can work.

I'm going back to work soon in a community reablement team working with elderly discharged from hospital and long term conditions like MS, stroke, respiratory stuff. Love the fact the no two days are the same!