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I hate my job with a vengence (debt collector in a call centre) and have kind of been drifting since having ds. My partner works in care and is now a manager and i've always thought his job sounds great (yes I do hear all the moans as well). I can't see myself working the rest of my life out doing what I do just now. I have very little qualifications, they would all probably be obsolete by now anyway, at 32 and a HALF am I too old to start again. Im really worried about what finances you receive etc, could anyone give any advice on that. TIA!! Oh and ive just submitted an application to college...
God,no You've got 30 years at least work left in you. Dh is 38 and is having a major career change as didnt want to spend the rest of his life doing what he was doing.
Also I bumped into a woman i used to work with a few years ago and she had went into this line of work (this is what got me thinking about it) and she was glowing saying she couldn't believe how great it was.
You are never too old imo My Mum went back to uni fulltime and did her B.ED. My I was 14 and my sisters were 12 and 7. There is support out there but it was grants in my day and its chnaged now.
Thanks everyone, your encouragement means a lot. Im hoping to work with adults with learning disabilities as a support worker. Not glamarous but quite rewarding I would imagine (unlike present job)
I went to University at 34. It was fantastic and a great start to a new life.
My experience of the lecturers at Uni/college is that they are delighted with mature students as they are there because they want to be and are interested in the subjects.
Have a fantastic time. Best of luck.
By the way, there's a University of the Third Age which is for pensioners, so at 32 you'd be too young. My mum started Cosmology at the age of 77, having been studying Geology for about 5 years before that.
You are NEVER too old. You'll probably get loads out of your course that a younger undergraduate wouldn't - if my experience was anything to go by I was far too busy getting drunk and 'finding myself' and only figured out the education part was quite interesting about 3 weeks before my finals. Doh.
You not to old. I'm 38 and am just about to start a correspondence (sp) course just have to decide whether to do book keeping or to a course to be a class room assistance.
I definetly wouldn't have had the maturity required to do a course/job im hoping for when I was younger, so thats true and yes i want to be there as opposed to still 'finding myself' (took long enough though). Im really feeling positive about this. Just need to pass the driving test now, dp is very supportive as this is his line of work, so I suppose thats a bonus and support in the actual learning. Can't wait, am just going to get started as soon as possible, no putting it off until this or that is paid or anything, both feet straight in. I know its not great paid, but i'd rather get shit wages for doing something i like, rather than shit wages for doing a job i hate (like just now)
To be honest, i think i would be happy being a support worker, ive never been very ambitious as in a career climber, I would just be extremely happy doing a job I actually enjoy! I can't wait to be a student, better get the botox topped up so I don't look like an old hippy haha
Go for it - I'm 44 and about to start college to retrain as a literacy/esol teacher. You are never too old to learn something new! Good luck in whatever choice you make
I am starting a social work degree in September. Am giving up a good salaried part time job but like you I knew I couldn't do the job for lots of years to come. I'm 37 so v old
I have enquired, for example about re-training as a lawyer, thought I was well past it, and was advised by local law firm that they in fact like older students as they are less likely to bugger off chasing their careers, have more commitments to keep them there, and have lots of life experience. I was actively encouraged. I have a degree already, so would take 4 years? to re-train at 31.
Ilovemydog - 1 year conversion, 1 year bar/solicitor equivalent, 2 years pupilage/trainee/internment whatever its called. . All the conversion course does is change my degree into law degree, I still have to do all the other stuff that law students have, on top of that.
I am going to do it, but not right now. Its a LOT of work, will involve a huge income drop and we cant do it just yet. But I will.
Are they? I spoke to a lawyer who said two. Oh, maybe I got that mixed with the bar/solicitor course? Maybe it was two years total!!!
I guess you work in law right? It seems very complicated and long! But I think worth it. The local uni has links with local solicitors firms, who offer sponsorship for those who live locally and want to stay working locally after qualifying.
the conversion course, as you know, is a year. The LPC/BVC is a year. Pupillage, one does 1st 6th, 2nd 6th and occasionally 3rd 6th. Training contract is a year...
So, it would only be 3 years... just knocked off a year for you...
lilac, if you want to work as a support worker with people with learning disabilities, you could apply for a job in a home or somehting liek that, and usually your NVQ's will be paid for and you do your learning whilst earning.....
. All the conversion course does is change my degree into law degree, I still have to do all the other stuff that law students have, on top of that.
. See your thread is encouraging others too! 
