Is 26 too old to go back to school?

[anouk]

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?

[chadash]

You are a baby!

Actually, I think 26 is a good time to go back to school. My kids are really getting their footing in their late 20s and have the maturity to start to know what they want to do. I think the early 20s are not the best time to discern that...

[kerslo]

Hello,

My name is Karen from Texas, four years ago (your age) I started school to be an RN, but there was a problem, I was a single parent of two little ones and had to work to pay for a mortgage and a car payment plus bills etcccccc......... anyway, :uhoh21:

I changed my major and instead seeked a business degree. I graduated in last year with an Associate and was half way to a Bachelor degree in Social Science. But when I was up on the podium something happened, when the LPN walked the stage, I realized that I did not want to graduate with the Business degree even though I had honers, I wanted to be up there with the Nurses.

I had been in school for three years but I realized that this was not what I wanted to do. So what did I do half way through the Bachelor degree? I left my Social Science degree and a year later here I am in nursing school right back to where I started, wanting to be a nurse. I reconciled with my husband and we are still hanging in there. There have been hard times but if u want to do something follow your heart. Last week I justed turned 30!

(I would have a BSN by now).:mortarboard:

[manofcare]

I wondered the same thing at fourtyone. Am now a 47y/o man in my first semester of an ADN program. I am one of the consistantly highest scoring students all the way through A&P I and II, Microbiology, and now in the program. My clinical skills are better because I bring life experience with me. I left a successful business to pursue my dreams. The only peolple that doubt my goals are not important to me anyway. My wife, daughter, and friends are very supportive. The instructors are really cool about me going into nursing. You know what? Five years from now, you will be five years older regardless what you are doing. I know I can make a positve difference in the care of my patients. My family is really long lived and healthy, I may work until I am seventy years old. Don't let the petty get you down, "Question not a folly, only what it accomplishes." Ayn Rand

[Era]

I went to Nursing school when I was in my late teens and the best students we had in my class were the 'matured' students. I had a lady who was in her late 40s and she was really good and was a good example to the rest of the class. You're only a baby! You'll be fine.

Good luck!

[Diahni]

People have gone to nursing school in their 50's and 60's.

I'm 53 and will take the NCELX this summer. You're never too old to do something if you still have the energy.

Diahni

[goldielocks43]

I started nursing school in my early 30's there was two women in there late 50's. Go for it.....

[busyrninva]

Too old?? Sometimes, I wonder if it's old enough. You have to have a certain maturity level to deal with all the stress and demands that come along with nursing. I could go on for hours giving countless examples to prove a point, but in light of the few precious moments I have off of work, I chose to only respond to your question: No, 26 is not too old to go back to school.

Best of Luck, never give up.

[Nimby5956]

I sure hope you're not too old!

I'm 39 and will just be going to college for the first time!

So, maybe by the time I'm 45, I'll be an RN.

Good Luck to you!

[lantern light]

I'm in a RN to MSN program and just this morning had a similar conversation with my dear friend. This past week I've really struggled with, "Am I doing the right thing?? Difference is, I'm 56. So at 26 you should definately listen to your heart and GO FOR IT! By the way, my friend responded just like one of the others that responded to you, she told me, so you'll be almost 60 when you get your MSN, or you won't continue and you'll be....just 60.

[Zeelvn]

You're making me feel really old m'dear. :) I started back to school at 43 to get my LVN. In a week I'll be 45 and I'm currently working on my RN. After that I plan to try and get accepted into a NP program. Who knows, after that I my go for a masters in psych to top it off.....I'll need something a little slower paced when I'm 70 or so. :)

zee

[taraspryte33]

Absolutely not!!! You are still young. I'm in my first semester of nursing school and I'm going to be 37. I don't think you're ever to young to try something new. Don't let others dictate what you are passionate about, keep strong.

[Katherine RN]

I graduated from nursing school only 1 year ago, and I'm 31, so no 26 years old is not "too old to start." There is a well known quote that says "in this life one rarely regrits thing that he does do and only regrits things that he does not attempt." Good Luck!