I'm so glad I came by and read many of your entries. I am 42 years old and having been laid off from my job in Silicon Valley three years ago, I'm now enrolled in a community college - wrapping up my prereqs for the Nursing Program.
I can identify with starting new again, especially in my forties now. I thought that there was something wrong with during those first few semesters because I would sit in the parking lot before the first day of class and cry in my car. I was scared to death to go to my class. I'd grab my new binders and backpack and put on a pair of sunglasses as I ventured into the young people on campus, afraid of standing out. I have to say that all of my prereqs have been awesome. Public Speaking was often terrifying and I have some great stories to comfort anyone with stage fright -- you couldn't possibly blow it worse than me, but I got an A in the class all the same. I struggled through Anatomy and came away with a B, and now I'm freaking out in Physiology.
Next is Microbiology and that scares me. I sometimes envy the people in the pottery classes as I trudge by their rooms on my way to Physio.
I'm so glad to be here and I will be back often!!!!
Hang in there, it will all be worth it. I'm 46 with a masters degree and I went back to school 3 years ago. My pinning was this past Wednesday. I even got a job before I graduated. There will be ups and downs but you will make it!
How very cool for you...I start my public speaking pre-req tomorrow for six weeks...I am NOT a confident speaker and it is good to hear that I have good company...good luck to you!!!
I agree with you about starting school at this age. I, too, am 45 and anticipating prereqs. I sure as heck wish my GPA was 4.0 but alas, even though as a PT student, I maintained 3.14, my overall GPA got averaged in with a dismal 1.66 from 20 years ago when I was a "social" student not an academic student...LOL...sooooo...I am working my way UP from 2.03. This semester is ending with excellent grades and I hope to continue this summer pulling my GPA until to at least a 3.0.
I also am in my fourties and went back to school recently. Your feelings of anxiety are all too commen. I felt sooo old and afraid that everyone would be staring at me and every question would be dumb. The one thing I remember that I can share with you is this... Going back to school now was the best experience. Back in my younger days, guys would talk to you mostly if they were hitting on you and girls were clicky etc. Now you are the "safe" one any everyone wants to be your friend. Being in school now at your age puts you into a whole different class with different expectations. Of course you will not get this treatment from everyone but overall you will be pleased. I still get a chuckle as I am leaving a room and some young student is in front of me and looks back and actually holds the door for me. Good luck you will be great.
Hey Rine, I am 44 and starting the program in the fall. It has been a long slow road, but i've enjoyed it so far. God willing i will have my RN when i'm 46. At the meeting (for new stu.) there were at least 3 older than me. And 2 of the men looked to be in their 70's! So we will do fine. BTW, I LOVED microbiology. Heather
Good luck to everyone! I just turned 50 in December, lost my mother very unexpectedly in March, have my "baby" graduating from high school tonight, who's then going off to be camp counselor for the summer then off to college, and then I will quit my job from the last 6 years and start an RN program in the fall. I think I've got rocks in my head!!
But I have been steadily working toward this the past 2 1/2 years and it just seems to be falling in to place the way it was supposed to. Big believer in Fate and just trying to follow the signs as much as possible.
As for being an older student, I got over that while actually being on campus (I had 2 - 70 years old in an Honors Communications class one year), and reading the other posts about being an older student. Compared to some of the late 50's, and 60-somethings I've read about, I feel like a baby!!
>>>>I DO feel so much younger now that I read this thread...I so worried about being 45 and in the middle of prereqs...I am a year away from completing 'em so I will be 46 BEFORE I start anyone's nursing program...good luck to all of you...
Wow, I have been searching for a thread like this for a while.
I am 45 next month and starting the RPN in the fall.
I have been a flight attendant for 18 yrs and have finally decided to shoot for my dream. The timing is right.
However, I am scared to death, and hope that I am doing the right thing. Will I make a good nurse? Do I have what it takes? Am I smart enough? Remember, I haven't used this brain in a long time. I have been opening pop cans for 18 yrs.
I have to quit my airline job in July and feel that once thats done, I won't feel so much anxiety. That "burning the bridge before you get to the other " feeling is tough to overcome.
You all make me feel much better. I can't wait!!!
I congratulate you all for following your dream no matter what age.
I'm 43, taking pre-requisites for RN program and.. worse.. from Brazil !! It means I also have the "language barrier" to deal with...but everything is ok so far! So... age and language can be left behind, if you really believe you can make it!
I love you guys and all support I've been getting in this web site!
I'm 43, taking pre-requisites for RN program and.. worse.. from Brazil !! It means I also have the "language barrier" to deal with...but everything is ok so far! So... age and language can be left behind, if you really believe you can make it!
I love you guys and all support I've been getting in this web site!
Thank you so much!! :loveya:
I am in the same boat, English is also my second language....In many instances I did better than the "natives" .....you can do it!
Paleobug
356 Posts
Hang in there, it will all be worth it. I'm 46 with a masters degree and I went back to school 3 years ago. My pinning was this past Wednesday. I even got a job before I graduated. There will be ups and downs but you will make it!