Going back to school at 35+!

[legalsea]

The Disney Magic is STRONG here! I am proud of every single person who has written here about returning to school!

 

[clownboy007]

I left Disney in 1993 to finish my B.A. in Nashville. It was a VERY "traditional" college campus where 99.9% of the students were 18-22. So at 30+ I was constantly being asked by other student what class I taught! Then, 10years later I spent another year in school catching up on theater technology and am finally making a living lighting concerts. Going back to school isn't easy and I admire anyone that has that much nerve! Good for you!

 

[photo_chick]

My goal was to finish my BFA before I was 30, then i had kids. I am going back when DS starts kinder in a year. I remember how much age difference there was at 25 before I had DD, now it will be nearly 10 years later!

 

[siestakeys04]

Well i went back to school this past january for business administration. and i am 35. Lets all keep going!!!!!

 

[Unregistered]

Sweetie, I was an executive assistant to the CEO of Colliers Seeley International in Los Angeles. . .I was there for many, many years, but I always wanted to be a nurse. I just graduated in December, I am 46 years old and I am LOVING. . .LOVING my new life. . . I am so glad I did this.

Trust me when I say you will not regret your decision at all.

Thanks for saying you will not regret your decision. I found this board while searching online for adults going back to school. I just turned 39 and have been doing home family childcare for 13 years. I have 2 daughters who always say "mom why dont you go back to school" I guess i always just felt at 30 and up I was too old to go back. I started a nursing program right after high school but left when i got married and started a family. Its nice to know people are going back to school, going after their dreams and being great at it and happy!! I want to go back for nursing and now actually feel its possible!!!
-Stacy

 

[C.Marie]

Congrats and good luck to everyone posting here

This past fall I made the decision to return to college at the age of 25 to persue a PharmD (doctor of pharmacy) I went to art school the first time around and let's just say the big bohemian dreams I had at age 18 didn't work out as I had planned and after several years I've finally returned to the classroom. For all those of you out there considering it, age does not matter at all. I have classes with people of all ages. Some are 18 and just getting started, others are in their late 20s like me juggling a career while at the same time heading down a new career path and others are 43 juggling raising a family and taking classes. It's the desire to learn that matters, not the year you were born.

Don't let your inhibitions stop you - get out there and do it! And for those of you who've already taken that step, one more cheer to show my understanding and support

 

[byoung]

Good luck.

 

[DisneyFairy19]

Congratulations.... I wish you all the best!!!

 

[Gusman2424]

Hi All,

First of all.... congrats to all you DIS participants going back to school for a career change! Kudos for taking that giant first step!

I too have taking the leap.... and I'm certainly on the older end of the spectrum for career changes (I'm 44)! I was layed off from my IT job after 17 years in the business about 5 years ago. I had the privilege of being a SAHD as we had a son shortly after I was layed off. I'm now 1 semester and one registry exam away from becoming a registered MRI Technologist! I cannot tell you how much I've enjoyed the challenges and rewards of changing careers at this point in my life.

Interesting as well is the fact that I'm by no means the oldest student in my program!

Cheers....

Gusman

 

[Christine43]

I'm older than you and I am trying to get into nursing school too. I just finished A & P I and II and Chemistry and I'm applying in October for the following October (that's how they work it at this school) and I'm knocking out all the regular classes until then so all I'll have are clinicals.
Congratulations and good for you. It was a very hard decision for me but it's definitely the right thing to do. I have three boys on the autistic spectrum which makes me want to lean toward pediatric nursing and I can't wait. You'll do great! Christine

 

[Praise2Him]

I got married after 2 years of college and stayed home with my kids until the youngest started 1st grade. I went back to college at age 37 and graduated at 39 1/2 with a degree in Elementary Education. Taught for 3 years, then came back home to homeschool my own children!

 

[CantWaitToGo2007]

I'm changing my career path after 15 years working as a real estate agent/property manager.......I have recently enrolled in a nursing program at a great college here in Michigan. How many out there have changed careers this late in their lives? I'm nervous but excited about this!

Congrats on going back to school

Good luck to you. I did the same thing. Went back to school when my child was 2 1/2. Went to Radiography school. I graduated 10 years ago. I'm so glad I did it.

I went back to school 5 years ago and graduated with a degree in Radiography as well. I already had a degree in Accounting, but decided that wasn't the right field for me. The really cool part is that after 25 years in the Air Force my dad (who was 45 at the time) decided that he wanted to go to school too. My dad went to Radiography school with me. I tell everyone he had to go because I wasn't allowed to cross the street by myself He now works at our local Emergency Department and loves his job, I work across the street from him in an Orthopaedic Clinic and I am so glad I decided to change my job field.

Almost forgot about my mom She graduated from nursing school when she was 37

 

[medalla74]

Wow..I love this board! I have wasted countless "fall" and "winter" semesters going back because I was too scared to go back at my age. I am 33yrs and I just had my third child. I give you all so much credit for doing what Ive been too afraid to do. I 've been in the same customer service dept for 5yrs at a company which allows me good pay and flexibility but nothing else. I would love to go back to school for ultrasound or elementary education but, too afraid of failure to do either. Kudos to all !

 

[chobie]

I just turned 39 and just finished my second year of law school. I was a SAHM for many years and before that waited tables. After my first year I had great grades but no legal experience. A year later I have an internship and 3 paid positions in the legal field to fill my resume. I'm currently working two part-time legal jobs and taking classes. I love what I am doing right now.

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

I'm changing my career path after 15 years working as a real estate agent/property manager.......I have recently enrolled in a nursing program at a great college here in Michigan. How many out there have changed careers this late in their lives? I'm nervous but excited about this!

Congrats!! That is awesome!

I have not been in the work force since my oldest DD was born, but I just recently decided to open up a children's boutique! I can empathize with being nervous!

 

[luvmyhusband]

I'm 38 and have about 15 mo. until I graduate from nursing school. I also was afraid of failure and that I didn't have the brains to do anything but change diapers. So far I have a 3.8 GPA. If I didn't go back, I would have always been afraid of failure!

 

[disneyeeyorefan]

I'm so glad I found this board. I am a 35 year old disney fanatic who went back to school a couple of years ago with the support of my dh of almost 15 years and 2 ds ages 13 and 5. I finish my bachelors in May of 08 and then promptly start my 6 semesters of grad and will be finished in May 10. Congrats to all who have gone back to school!!!!
All I want when I graduate is a nice long disney vacation.

 

[katiesmomluvsdizne]

I will get my undergrad in May 09 and masters in May 11. Than I will finally be working as a speech pathologist. I love the field so much and I so fortunate that I finally discovered what I wanted to do when I grow up!! I will be 39 when I graduate grad school. Which still leaves me plenty of time to work before retiring.

If I could get my parents to move south I would have skipped going back to school and just worked at the world!! My sister jokes that I am spending all of this time and money on school and will end up working at WDW with Donald Duck. My reponse is "he does appear to have some serious articulation problems.:

Best of luck to all of you

 

[Taqwus]

"Dear Abbey: I would love to go to college and get a diploma, but in four years I will be 50 years old. What should I do". signed, Confused."

"Dear Confused: How old will you be in four years if you didn't go back to college?"

I have never read dear abbey, yet I have given that advice to plenty of people, only thing I add is in those 4 years you were not in college what would you have accomplished

Me, I am almost a career student. I started my AS in Computer Network Engineering Technology, then my BS at University of Phoenix in Business Systems Information technology. Then could not find a job I really liked, one that challenged me so I went back in my 30's, at first it was for my MBA, then on the campus tour they said that UNO (University of New Orleans) was only one of 10 in the US that taught Naval Architecture and Marine Design. WOW I would be able to build ships, so I sent in my application for the graduate level and was turned down, got really upset, but they said I lacked the maths (and boy were they right). Right now I am going for Mechanical Engineering, just passed my hardest class Dynamics (has a 35% pass rate, 12% on the first time taking it) should have 2 years left, hope my money holds out next summer I am planning my first engineering internship

ALso anyone else thought about doing the Disney Internship, I have seriously been thinking about it

 

[PrincessV]

I don't know how I missed this thread!

I'm right there in the trenches, too - currently 36, I've been back in school for the past few years trying to finish a BA in Art History. I've been doing it all online thorugh the State University of New York, in addition to a full time job and raising my DS5 as a single Mom. I'm exhausted!! I just decided to take a break next semster and only take one course. I'm looking at it this way: I can't afford the massive salary reduction a job in my intended field will entail until DS is grown, so I've got plenty of time to work on the BA and eventual MFA, right?!

Congrats to everyone taking on the adventure, too!