I've made some horrible decisions in my life leading to years of missed opportunities. Is there still hope?

Question

I am 36 and I feel like I have just gotten my head above the waters after dead end career and relational choices. I think I could go back to school soon, study something I really want to do. But I am PLAGUED with doubt.

For example, I would really love to challenge myself and study something like law, business, banking, engineering but I think that if I do something like this, I won't have a degree until I am close to 40 and I will be discriminated against due to age and my flakey job history. If I managed to pull one of these things off, would people, honestly, be interested in hiring me? Or is it just a matter of my own confidence? Or do I just have pipe dreams and I am too old and washed up?

I guess I feel like I have the brains and the skills, just not the emotional strength or confidence. Has anyone else ever felt like this? Can give me advice? Not necessarily about jobs, but about having the mindset to succeed in general? And whether or not I should even try at my age to make substantial changes?

Answer 1

I think i know you

Answer 2

While there's life, there's hope.

So what if you're 40 by the time you graduate.  I doubt if you'll be discriminated against as you'll still have at least 20 years to give to your employer, partner, or business.  At this age you'll get more respect in the field than someone who looks like they're om their twenties.

Find someone who will encourage and strengthen you no matter what you decide to do.

Go for it. And give it your all.

Answer 3

Well you have two choices:

1. Stay where you are...get another dead end job and wish upon the start that you could do something different with your life...basically same old same old including the complaining about how you just can't handle going for what you need and challenging yourself...blah blah blah

2.  Enroll yourself in a tradetech where you can get a lesser degree in these fields that you're so interested in and once you're done and have somewhat of a satisfying job with a future, enroll yourself for your BA or MA in one of your dream educational goal and get the degree and job you want.  

Guess what? you're not getting any younger so good luck with the job discrimination once you're 45 and still complaining. There's still hope if you actually do something rather than stand in the corner and wish.  I know people in their forties and fifties getting degrees in engineering and they are just as successful if not more than some twenty year old fresh from college.  You have to think that you CAN.

Answer 4

Yes, plenty. Did you know you could be a military officer (command a unit with great pay) if you start college right now, and they will likely pay off your college debt? (cutooff age is 42)

If you go into anything medical, you will get hired no matter your age because it is in such high demand. Awesome salary, too if you just get a degree or even a two year certificate.

Answer 5

You will wake up 4 years from now and be 40 and have nothing or you could go for it.  I just graduated at 44 with my master's degree.  I did it for myself-36,45,60 isn't old - its a number.  Take charge of your life and have a can do attitude. You can do anything you put your mind to.  Your self confidence -or lack of - is affecting your perception of yourself.  Life is to be lived.  GO FOR IT.