Is 26 too old to go back to school?

AuntieRN · Oct 5, 2006

To make a long story shorter, everyone in my extended family keeps asking me why am I still in school. The one that really bugs me is everyone saying that I'm simple to old to go back to school. Should I be offended? Has anyone else heard someone say they were to old?

Anouk...I will be 42 in April and I just graduated from the ADN in August of this year. You are never too old for nursing school.

mariojcorreia · Oct 5, 2006

Good luck!! Goo ahead! :yelclap:

buddiage · Oct 5, 2006

Hi, I'm currently working on obtaining my BSN in nursing. Before this degree, I pursued a BA in education. I thought that I wanted to be a teacher. After all it was something that I'd wanted to do since childhood. However, once midway through college something inside of me clicked. I didn't really want to be a teacher, but because I was halway through the program, and had taken loans I decided to go through with it anyway. I took my test for my credentials and once I found myself in the classroom setting, I realized that it was not what I wanted to do and should have trusted my gut instinct instead.
I was always drawn to nursing. Especially when in my junior year of college I went to my doctor and he misdiagnosed my symptoms of being the result of stress. I went to the school NP, and she ran test and found out it was more than stress. (I was SEVERELY anemic)
I was impressed and wanted to make a career change before I started my career as a teacher but was to scared to do so.
To make a long story shorter, everyone in my extended family keeps asking me why am I still in school. The one that really bugs me is everyone saying that I'm simple to old to go back to school. Should I be offended? Has anyone else heard someone say they were to old?

Ahhh, yes, other people's opinions...

Remember in psychology that your position in YOUR life will affect those that are close to you? Remember that if you change roles, that it can cause the people around you to "shift" their own roles and relationship with you, causing them discomfort?

People get comfortable with the way they relate to you, and they don't want to change that. You are getting FAR too much input from others.

Everyone is saying you are too old?

There is a student with a Master's in Education, and she is in the ADN program right now, with me.

I am 32 years old, and just started my first year of school. When I first went out to do this, I stopped because I thought I was too old (28).

My eureka moment came when I figured out that I'd be 34 years old one day, regardless if I had a nursing degree or not.

As you may conclude, I chose to be 34 with a nursing degree. I can't wait to pursue higher levels of education once I am through this.

I am going to school with GRANDMOTHERS who are in nursing.

Don't ever let other people make you feel guilty for going to school, or discourage you.

Tough toenails for them!!!

DanaG524 · Oct 5, 2006

Hi! I'm not in school yet, but I'm 25 and will be going back to school in January to start my pre-req's. I don't think we're too old at all to go back to school. I honestly think if I went to nursing school when I was fresh out of high school, I wouldn't have done well and I probably would be going back to finish it up now anyway lol. Like someone else on here said, I think I needed to have more maturity and life experience behind me (not that someone 18 wouldn't do well - I just personally feel I wouldn't have at 18 :wink2: ) I love to learn now - at 18, I could take it or leave it. I say go for it - even if you graduate at 30, that is still so0o young. Don't let anyone discourage you! Good luck to you - let us know what you decide? :)

*Dana*

RNHawaii34 · Oct 5, 2006

you are kidding right? I started college when I was 17, due to some circumstances, I didn't graduate until I was 33 years old. I think 26 years old is just a right age to sta rt goin to college in the first place because you are more mature and you are starting to get your priorities straight ( I hope I am correct?). I know some people in their late 40s came back to school to study again. It's a good move. you will never regret coming back to school, trust me it will pay off later, Goodluck to you :-) :nurse:

julie978 · Oct 5, 2006

No!!! Never too old!

This is my second career, and I am looking at 2 more years of the MSN program at USF starting in JAN at the ripe old age of 36. When you look at HOW DARN LONG it takes to work toward retirement- no you are not too old- I mean I will be working HECK, what? 30 more years, so what is another couple of years in school? Those naysayers that bring up your age- could they be afraid of change or afraid of the changes and empowerment this career will bring you? Or even the jealousy- the time spent focusing on something bigger than they are?

Good Luck! Julie

BernieRN · Oct 5, 2006

I am 47 and still in genreal courses. It's never too late. I would rather not regret later that I didn't try.

cherilynn36 · Oct 5, 2006

I'm 38, after 12 yrs nursing, 20yrs of marriage and 4 children I'm starting my RN to BSN this month only as a stepping stone to my Master's and CRNP...we all grow older each day but, we choose to grow wiser. :)

DianeMyra · Oct 5, 2006

Yes. But on the bright side, you can become a Walmart greeter.

anxious · Oct 5, 2006

I'm 25 just starting LPN school and have a few more prereqs for the RN program. 26 is not too late many people are doing it much older then that.

Just do it! You'll be pleased that you did.

anouk · Oct 6, 2006

Yes. But on the bright side, you can become a Walmart greeter.

I know that that was a joke and meant as such, but I feel that I must clarify some things. I've been a teacher for about three and a half years. Prior to this year I had been taking my prereqs (part, PART, time of course) at the local community college.

I am currently working part time as a substitute teacher and going to school as well. When I told my extended family that I wanted tto pursue a career in nursing, they couldn't understand why I would give up teaching.

I agree with what another poster stated earlier: a lot of people don't understand the 1/4 year life crisis. You get into college (which is a struggle within itself) and at 18 years old you're told to pick a major that is suppose to lead to your "lifelong" career. You go through school and you're not sure what you want to do. Once you are in school, you carry on because of the time and money invested into said future career. Now don't get me wrong I love kids, and I like teaching, but it is not for me.

Although I don't regret getting my first BA, (going to college was trully one of the best things I've done in my life) I've had several health scares in the last few years that have made me question what I want to do with my life. When I was in college I wanted to study nursing, but because I was halfway through, I told myself that there was no reason to "rock the boat".

Now that I'm a little older, I want to pursue the career that I envision for myself, not what others think I should be doing.

droadracer · Oct 6, 2006

I received a BS in 1972 and have sent my entire application in for Nursing School...Do I feel I am too old to go back to school?....hell no...it is what I really want to do...it just took me longer than I expected...