CMitchell11

Wow. I'm sorry your family is close minded to your aspirations. In some ways I can relate. I'm 27 & initially went to school to pursue my moms idea of a career at the age of 19. Needless to say I completed the tech program & hated the field so much I never sought a job in that particular industry. I landed myself about 12k in student loan debt for an education/career that was never my idea. Again, I went back to school to purse Business Admin at 24yrs old because it was a "flexible" degree with a lot of opportunities. First, I'm not good at accounting & second-It's the furthest choice from my personality & self fulfillment. Anyways, my only advice is to pursue what YOU desire. Hell, if you wanted to be a circus act I'd give the same advice-do what makes YOU happiest because you're the one who has to live with your career. You are from a different generation. Male nurses are becoming more common, don't let close minded people make your career choice.

I am a 27yr old woman plateaued in my current career. I have no formal education other then the Business Admin associates degree I initially pursued because it was the "sensible" thing to do. Short story: I don't enjoy business. I got through a year of FT class while working FT & decided to take break before getting to far into a degree/career I'm not interested in. Here I am today 2yrs later, regretting my lack of education & time wasted with uncertainty. I've been inspired to pursue nursing. I've returned back to my local JC to re-route my career & pursue the pre reqs for our local ADN program. All in all, I only have my pre reqs left and even that will take a year (including summer term). Bottom line, I am 27. I have at least a year to go before applying to the program. I haven't even told my boyfriend, who's mother and sister are nurses. All he knows, I'm pursuing further education to better myself. Only my mother knows, and I've basically talked the idea down to "we'll see how I do with these science pre reqs". I continuously talk myself down in the possibility that it may not be for me. I am a what if person, although my gut tells me I will do fine academically & will thrive professionally-I still have this doubt of even getting into a program despite the lottery system here. I am lacking the confidence to even tell others how strongly I feel about pursuing my dreams. I am the only person in my immediate family to be close to earning a degree (not too far off from just an associates). I wasn't raised to value the importance of education or the idea of a career early on. My mom was a stay at home mom. I feel like I wasn't primed for life early on & I am still in many ways, lost and lacking confidence in education & career goals. It brings me to tears voicing this on a forum....I am probably overthinking but I chose not to divulge my education goals with fam or friends because I don't want people to assume it's another "phase" i'm going through. I know I have what it takes & at this age I am prepared to take my coursework much more seriously. If i'm already struggling with confidence & ability to thrive academically, am I setting myself up for failure? Is this feeling common & has anyone been able to relate?