Going back to school in your 30s

i'm 25 and planning to go back to school in the fall, and even that feels embarrassing to me. stories about older people going back to school and succeeding are so inspiring to me though, it's perfectly doable and really never too late. there's so much pressure for people to jump right into finding their Passion by 18 and being a career person by my age, which combined with pressure from parents and society is just a recipe for leaping into something you hate for the money. going later means you know yourself and your interests better. you're less likely to be in full panic mode by your last semester realizing you've set yourself up with a lifetime of debt and you don't even get to do a job you like when it's all said and done.

I believe you are never too old to go back to school. My dad recently took a continuing education class at a college and he's in his 60s.

I can not handle college. I tried 4 times. I am more of a trade school person. I have 4 months left in a 13 month weekend program for Massage Therapy.

I am 61 and am enrolled in St. Louis University online Studies for Professional Students. I am bettering my writing skills and have learned a lot. I LOVE it!! Well, most of the time. My CPTSD impairs my concentration and that part has not been fun but for the most part, I love it. I can do my school work from anywhere in the world as long as I have internet access. I don't have to get dressed up, drive anywhere. I get online in the comfort and privacy of my little home!

Good for you!!!

I went back to take online classes from a local college at age 25, have been on and off online classes due to moving around. I'm now 27 and finally completed most of general courses, and now need to decide what I want to major in, which has been a roller coaster for me ever since I graduated high school.

Oh boy, this is quite a painful subject for me but I want to tell my story. I left school at 16. My goal? To do absolutely nothing. Just staying at home, playing videogames, eating and withering away. I had no friends, no support network, nothing. Then, at some point, I developed a weirdly rebellious nature and started reading books and listening to music like crazy. I developed a good knowledge of both literature and music, especially the latter, I started writing reviews, though that always felt like a chore, but it was oddly satisfying at the same time. Then, at 27 years of age, I decided to give school another try. I had to study the whole course by myself, with no support, with the goal of taking an exam with all the other younger students at the end of the year. I failed. Horribly. I couldn't focus, I couldn't even see why was I studying. It was hell. The great, genius-like image I had of myself crumbled. That's why I decided to go to a therapist in the first place. I've tried approaching many subjects since then: social sciences, photography, drawing, nothing has worked. I keep asking myself: am I an idiot? I have a very good vocabulary, speak three languages and I know a lot of things, though nothing in depth. What am I supposed to do? I suppose this is a cry for help. I'm so lost.

Thanks everybody.

((((fallaximago)))) I'm so sorry you're struggling with schoo. I can relate. What are your hobbies? What do you like to do?

Hi Mickey, when I was a child I played videogames and listened to music, mostly, that's how I started learning English, by translating videogames and songs. I also read magazines and sometimes books. I liked to come up with strange art projects but I never received any sort of encouragement from parents or relatives. Quite the opposite. I was heavily bullied and ate a lot. Then, in my late teens, I started enjoying all genres of music, reading and writing poems. I can tackle any subject but when it comes to actually studying and learning things in depth I get bored and lose motivation. Now, I just do a little bit of everything, though mostly I waste my time with YT videos, cigarettes, overeating and other unhealthy pastimes.

My daughter is 35 and just started back to college this fall. It's hard as she has to find study times between her daughter's naps and her sons homework ( a bit easier now that she finally found a limited daycare ) but for the first time in her life she is maintaining an A average. She did poorly in HS due to her BP and drugs. But she is determined to get her degree in communications and work with children. Her cousin ( the same age and who also struggles with a drug history and MI) who went back to school when her youngest was a year old and is now working as a social worker really inspired her. I think the key was she found a career she is truly interested in. Her other cousin who was also into drugs went the trade apprenticeship route. Lots of people find themselves in their 30's.

((((fallaximago)))) I can relate to what you're saying. Studying is very hard for me too, and I don't what career to pursue I'm sorry

I'm so sorry to hear. Are you working? Do you find studying hard because of a lack of motivation or because of your issues? What are your interests? I hope you don't mind my curiosity.

I'm studying languages at university... I'm not sure it's the career I want to pursue. Not only it is very hard for me, but I'm not that interested... I don't know what else I would like to do, though.

Same here I've tried many things and nothing seems to stick. It's so frustrating! Sometimes I think that maybe I should resign to having no talents whatsoever... But that somehow makes me feel worse. I wish I had something more encouraging to say

I feel like it's even harder in your 30's. You're not as young, you've been in the real world for a while. It was a pretty hard shock to my mind and body to move back on a campus where everyone is much younger than I was, dealing with stresses I hadn't dealt with in 8 years. I found it hard to fit in and relate to people who were so much younger. My young friends had a lot of drama, some dragged me through it while I was dealing with chronic health issues and financial problems. Constantly missed my cat and cried about it. I requested a medical single based on my disability and was denied so they put me with a stranger. Which was detrimental to my health.

On the bright side, it was amazing to know I could form friendships, being re-socialized on that level. Classes were awesome...when I wasn't sick. I actually did really well in all my classes, only one grade was below a 3.0.

Whether you are living on campus or not, there is probably a non-traditional student lounge somewhere if you want to meet older students. There are a lot of resources as well to help motivate you and be successful. My campus even had a student success center and a counseling center.

I had to withdraw from school based on financial and health problems. If I do school again, it will be an online program I am looking at. It was...an experience, but I did it in my 20's and would rather not do the live on campus thing again.

((((unfoldingxwings))))

It makes me wonder how I ever survived this when I was younger! Or how did we survive high school? Sometimes we discount the experiences we've had in the past, we grow so distant or so much older, we forget our old struggles and how they shaped who we are today. College can be brutal, but it is also a ground for learning and self-exploration.

I got to be Cas. Not who I am at home with all those gender expectations, but my gender neutral self; a combination or male and female, and I was able to go by a name that reflected my gender fluidity that I won't be able to have at home. People called me He or They. Acknowledging and respecting my gender presentation. People recognized me as what I spiritually identify as. At college you get simply be yourself. I wish the real world was more open to this.