[beeutterfly]

I'm struggling with finding a line between realistic expectations of furthering my education and not being held down to follow my dreams. I've come to a point in my life where I'm allowing myself to acknowledge that I am capable and intelligent. I feel empowered and ready. I'm looking forward to the hard work and cannot wait to get back to it! I'm returning to finish my Bachelor's of Science in Dietetics as a Junior and then maybe, hopefully, I'm pretty positive I'd like to attend medical school.

But as an adult, 33 next month, I have responsibilities that weren't as serious as during the first go at college. I feel a drive I haven't since being a sophomore in high school, right before bipolar disorder was full-force. I'm positive that's the last time I felt driven and a spark for learning. But I'm concerned. To help keep realistic expectations, is there an appropriate and acceptable level of self-doubt? I'm not young anymore but feel stifling my aspirations would compromise my progress and leave me full of regret.

[Travelinglady]

By all means, please don't stifle your desires. However, you might want to take a light load of classes until you get into the swing of things again. I suspect you're more afraid of failure.

[beeutterfly]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

By all means, please don't stifle your desires. However, you might want to take a light load of classes until you get into the swing of things again. I suspect you're more afraid of failure.

Failure has been the norm for me for many years, until last. I know failure, it's success I'm struggling to accept. I completed a 9-month certificate program this past March, full-time. I know I can do it. Success is the unfamiliar, the unknown. Which is probably why I'm nervous.

[alicetailor]

Go with the flow and accept that you can be successful in life too. If you have already seen failure, then maybe its time to taste success. So don't hold back, give your best and have faith in yourself.

[dedicated]

Originally Posted by beeutterfly

I'm struggling with finding a line between realistic expectations of furthering my education and not being held down to follow my dreams. I've come to a point in my life where I'm allowing myself to acknowledge that I am capable and intelligent. I feel empowered and ready. I'm looking forward to the hard work and cannot wait to get back to it! I'm returning to finish my Bachelor's of Science in Dietetics as a Junior and then maybe, hopefully, I'm pretty positive I'd like to attend medical school.

But as an adult, 33 next month, I have responsibilities that weren't as serious as during the first go at college. I feel a drive I haven't since being a sophomore in high school, right before bipolar disorder was full-force. I'm positive that's the last time I felt driven and a spark for learning. But I'm concerned. To help keep realistic expectations, is there an appropriate and acceptable level of self-doubt? I'm not young anymore but feel stifling my aspirations would compromise my progress and leave me full of regret.

How do you measure success? For me, satisfaction from accomplishment is success. In that regard, I find you successful already. You had already accomplished a lot when compared to many others, you should take pride on how you progressed in life. You had disorder that you overcame, that's a big one that you should be proud of. I think you are trying to be perfect, please don't be. We all make mistakes where we learn from. You won't find success if you won't take a risk. What do you mean by realistic expectation? As you mentioned, you are interested in pursuing medical degree after graduation from your Bachelor's of Science in Dietetics. For me that's your goal there. You are just overwhelmed, I suppose, that you may not be able to work out your plans. Commit yourself for whatever it takes to achieve your plans, one day at a time. Be satisfied of what you accomplish each day as a measure of progress. Progress after progress = success! Take every failure as lesson to strengthen your self confidence not to take them negatively. I don't see AGE as a factor in your career. I truly admire you for your aspirations and accomplishments at your age. May you find peace of mind in order to focus in accomplishing your goals.

[Fresia]

Winston Churchill once said, "Failure isn't fatal, and success isn't permanent."
Success is truly what you make of it; find and use your own standards and goals in knowing what you know now about yourself to accept what it is important to you in order to gauge how you are doing and what it is you are trying to achieve. Count any success towards meeting your goals as a your blessing, because you know what you have achieved and are steps to achieve what you want in the future.

Goals change over time as does our drive, what once was important may change, that is good; also in dealing with MH, those priorities become part of our goals and have their own set of goals as well to help us get from one point to another. Realistic expectations come with time and you will find that common ground as you start back; never lose sight of the dream as you need that ultimate goal to set your sights on, but needing to also set goals to get done on a daily basis the task at hand to accomplish it. You can do it!

Just believe you can and listen to what is going on with you as you move forward to work at a good pace for the workload, and remember to relax and have some fun too; it is all a matter of finding the right balance for you. Best wishes as you move forward, good luck!

[Raghib Ahmed]

You said failure has been the norm for you, and yet you are still driven and empowered to succeed. Now that's what I call inspiring. No matter what life has thrown at you, and no matter how many times you've fallen, you're willing to get back up and keep going.

You deserve to succeed. It's normal to be afraid of failure and success, so don't feel disheartened by how you feel. Self-doubt, fear, guilt, - it's all part of the process.

Just keep going. Keep persevering. Like you always have.

Not only will you be better off by succeeding, but you'll make other people better off too. By letting your own light shine, you give permission to others to do the same. By succeeding yourself, you will give hope to others that they can succeed to.

Keep going after what you want. Stay awesome.

Good luck mate.