i'm new here and just found this site. i will be starting biology 110 in the fall. i already have a bs in education and will be going back to the community college i started at 25 years ago! this is something i should have done way back then, but , i was young and stupid and had no confidence in myself. but i'm doing it now!
i'm so excited i have already gotten my biology book and started reading and taking notes. fortunately, my instructor has a website as well and i've been following along and getting a head start.
anyone feel like the oldest in class? i have this image of being stuck in a classroom with a bunch of 18 year olds...lol. i am taking night classes though so hopefull that means the average age goes up.
people keep telling me how old i'll be when i'm finally an rn, but heck, i'll be that old in a few years whether or not i'm a nurse, so i might as well go for it.
it's funny to hear everyone worrying about being the oldest in their class. i am actually the oldest in all of my classes and actually love it. i would have never thought that i would have great friends that are in there 20's. i am old enough to be most of these kids mom --- most of them come to me for advice, help studying, etc..... it's great especially when i see a kid grow up and learn to take pride in what they are doing. many of the kids i am in school with don't get a lot of support/advise from parents and friends.
for all of you worried about going back to school when you are older --- don't worry --- i think i am a better student now than had i pursed a nursing career in my 20's. i love being in school now.......
a very positive thing about me being back in school is that it has helped my 16 year old son study more. we actually sit done and do homework together and i think he feels really good when he can actually tutor me on things -- he feels even better when i pull an a in that class.
i am not married but have dated someone for over four years. he does get a bit "jealous" because i study and spend a lot of time in class. one thing i always remind myself is that i am going back to school to please myself --- not anyone else! i spent my life worrying about everyone but myself.
i have to say that i'm more focused on school now that i'm older. i'm determined to succeed all the challenges that are ahead of me.
i see a difference in my attitude towards school now. when i was younger, school didn't really matter to me, but now i know it's a do or die situation. you either make the grades and study or you can kiss your dreams about becoming a nurse goodbye.
i was so afraid of going back to school at 46, but i'm come to terms with it the more i get involved with getting enrolled in all of my classes. it's kinda exciting actually! ok, more than kinda exciting! (lol)
for all you "older students " out there...anyone have to take out loans to pay for school?? my hubby is kind of freaking out with all the expenses , now that i am no longer "working" full time.
My tuition will be due at the same time my husband is getting a bonus, so bye-bye bonus! After witnessing me suffer through a thankless teaching career, he is insisting that I go to nursing school, which is something I want to do for myself. I love that man. How many times did he hear me say that I should have gone into nursing?! We are also paying college tuition for my son (my husband is the step-dad...again, love that man). We're doing some creative financing, like trading in nice cars for used ones and seriously watching our spending. I am not working because nursing school will be full-time...8-5 plus a few hours of homework, from what I understand. Here it is in a nutshell: The money will return to us when I start working as a nurse and I'll be living out a lifelong dream. Can't put a price on that. I think it is incredibly important for husbands and kids to know how serious this decision is and being concerned about finances is normal. It took me months to finally accept doing this for myself. On another note, because nursing school doesn't start until Jan., I'm getting Microbiology over with. The first day is tomorrow. I've been eating Tums for two days.
Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.
I'm 40 this year. I start bio (pre-req to my pre-reqs) and english this semester. I haven't been in school in 20 years. If I get in to the program I'm hoping for (in spring 2011), I will be a BSN at the end of 2012, making me 44 when I graduate. I also homeschool my kids who are now 10 & 14, but luckily I don't have to work outside the home. I don't think it matters how old you are when you decide to become an RN. I am the type that always loves learning and doing new things. So I always tell people 'GO FOR IT!' when they tell me their dreams and now I'm taking my own advice too.
Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.
About the loans thing.... I am paying for my pre-reqs cash on a plan as I take them course by course. My step daughter started college yesterday, I will hopefully be fulltime in the spring of 2010, when my other step daughter will be starting college (presumably) that fall. So we will have 3 people in college/university at one time, all we are paying for. So yup, I get the stress.
We are thinking about breaking open my husbands annuity as well as getting loans. Once I get my BSN I will be working and all the money will go to paying off all the loans, as quickly as possible. Luckily we are blessed and don't 'need' my income to live on.
I am so stressing over this and pushing myself so hard to get into the RN program, to me failure isn't an option. If I don't get my RN I don't know how we are going to repay everything. My own daughter may be starting college early, so that would be 4 - oh cr@p! Anyone got any prozac!!? jk...
i did the student loan, you almost have to this day and age with the cost of living so expensive. we down sized as well, giving up our expensive truck and keeping my car instead. it's a sacrifice, but one well worth it when i can finally become a nurse. i know it's going to be a long and hard road, but one i'm willing to take.
my family is totally behind me and i think that helps my attitude and desire to want to do my best in school. my husband and son know there will be times mom will be very busy with school, but they've accepted that, so it makes me feel more at ease knowing they understand and support me.
i too see this as a no failure option. i'm so focused on what i have to do to succeed to get that letter of acceptance into the nursing program.
good luck to all of us going back to school! we can do it!
I am 33 right now, not the oldest, but certainly not the baby. I am taking classes for medical assisting right now so I can work in the field as one, but I plan on taking the 4 pre-requisites I need and hopefully get into the Fall '10 program. I already have my AA so I am going in hopefully as a transfer student as a junior, and then have it all done in 2 years... :) So, I will be 37 or 38 when I am done with it all...
Ok 58 here, finishing pre req. Will be 61 when an RN. This will be my 4th career (and I think the last). I am much more enthusiastic now than when I first went to college 40 years ago. It really is never too late to follow your dreams, the heck with the nay-sayers!
I'll be 47 when I graduate from nursing in May 2011. I made it into the nursing program last fall & am currently half way through my 2nd semester. It is hard, but I'm loving it! Doing my OB rotation right now. It will be my second career and I'm so glad I made the choice to go back to school. I think the older students take it more seriously...I am not the oldest student in my class either. I know you'll be great! Its alot of work, but I know it will be worth it in the end! Best of luck to you!!
Im right along with you lala, I'm 26 but I have a set of twins. So after I graduate I will be 28 or 29, but then I want to go to CRNA school. So after at least 3 years of experience as an RN and the 3 year program I will be pushing 35 or even 36. I might not be old compared to others, but when you have people in your classes that are 20 and 21, they surely make me feel old.
40startingoveragain
17 Posts
it's funny to hear everyone worrying about being the oldest in their class. i am actually the oldest in all of my classes and actually love it. i would have never thought that i would have great friends that are in there 20's. i am old enough to be most of these kids mom --- most of them come to me for advice, help studying, etc..... it's great especially when i see a kid grow up and learn to take pride in what they are doing. many of the kids i am in school with don't get a lot of support/advise from parents and friends.
for all of you worried about going back to school when you are older --- don't worry --- i think i am a better student now than had i pursed a nursing career in my 20's. i love being in school now.......
a very positive thing about me being back in school is that it has helped my 16 year old son study more. we actually sit done and do homework together and i think he feels really good when he can actually tutor me on things -- he feels even better when i pull an a in that class.
i am not married but have dated someone for over four years. he does get a bit "jealous" because i study and spend a lot of time in class. one thing i always remind myself is that i am going back to school to please myself --- not anyone else! i spent my life worrying about everyone but myself.