Lol oh, wow. This makes me laugh now that I am 29. I already have my degree in anthropology, but I want to be a nurse and so I am starting my pre-reqs next week at a community college. Thankfully students who are 22yrs old thought I was their age and were shocked at my age. I don't act or look 30. I'm single, no kids, and have my future wide open. I want to make it a good one. Age is just a number that tells you how long you've been on this planet. What you have to realize is this is a career and something you will most likely do until you retire when you're in your 60's! So, do you really think it makes any sense to say because you're 22 and didn't begin when you were 18 that you should just toss your nursing career out the window? What else would you do? This isn't just a degree or a job. It's your life. It's what you will do with the majority of your time for the rest of your life. If you feel your heart is leading you in a different life path then by all means follow it, but if nursing people to health is what the legacy you want to leave in your life, then go for it and don't let anybody stop you.