[waterknob1234]

Okay, so I have been going to school for 2 years now studying accounting. I am close to graduating. If all goes as planned I should graduate in May 2018. I have good grades and I am on the Dean' List.

I have struggled with depression off and on all my life. From 2010 to 2015 I worked at a doctor's office job that was a complete nightmare. From time to time I still shudder at some of the bullying I went through there.

I want so much to be successful in an accounting job. Right now I work a part-time job in a dry cleaners. It is an easy job and it's like working with family. I like this job but it does not pay a living wage. It is not a career.

I want to do well. I also have to be the breadwinner in my household. I am so afraid to fail again. I am 55 years old and I am too old to keep failing. I must succeed this time but I am so scared.

[Yzen]

You have done well in school, so you have the education. Anxiety tricks us into focusing on
what might go wrong. Imagine all the positive things that can and likely will go right: you graduate on the deans list; you find a better paying job and become the breadwinner; accounting becomes your new career! You can do this! This is why you are working for it. Trust yourself.

[Agent Misty]

Fear of failure is a tough thing to have, because it means your at the fork in the road.

On one side, there is the goal. It's the side of the fork you want to take. But then, when there is the fear of failure, it drives people to go to the other side, where they give up, or never even get started. The funny thing is, going to the side of giving up is immediately bringing to life what the person feared all along - failure.

The only chance to keep that fear from being a reality is to take the tough road and follow through, which you already are.

I know how it is to not be able to shake the fear though. I've been going through it myself. I wasn't able to shake it. So I redirected it. My fiance and I are working on getting a business of the ground right now. At first I didn't like the idea of it at all purely because of the potential of failure. But I decided to try to make myself feel fear of not trying my very best to make this happen. Fear of quitting again. Sort of redirect my perspective of the fear. Now all my fear of failure is gone. Once we get off the ground, if we fail we will be losing a lot of money. But I'm not afraid of that anymore. I'm actually looking forward to being the me that didn't give up and tried my best without being afraid of the end result.

If you can, try to be excited for the end result, not afraid. Being afraid of something in the future is assuming that your fear ( in this case of failure) could be part of the future. But you don't know that, so you can choose how to look forward to the future. Try to work on looking forward to the future with excitement and anticipation, not fear and worry. If you can.

[Sunflower123]

Congratulations on how far you’ve come!!! Fellow accountant here. I can see where you might be anxious about the future but all indicators are that you’ll be successful. Graduating in May, good grades, the dean’s list...all great news. I’ve been in nightmare jobs before (bullying) and also struggle with depression on and off. It’s tough but you’ll have your education in a field that offers good opportunities to fall back on.

Best wishes and kudos.

[waterknob1234]

I am old to be a student but better late than never. Oddly, I found my chance to go to school and study accounting, which I had been talking about doing for ten years, at a time when I was unemployed. I feel like having an Associate Degree under my belt gives me more options in life. Before I always felt stuck. Not going anywhere. I won't give up. I will keep pushing on and pray to overcome anxieties. Thanks everybody for your support.

[boogiesmash]

Just want to say your inspiring me to go back to school. I too am older but kinda stuck in a dead end career. I want to be better.