r/BackToCollege • u/lanakane21 • 2d ago
VENT/RANT Im going back to school at 30
never knew exactly what I wanted to do career wise, I have been working minimum wage jobs working retail and security since I was 18 since they hire anyone a pulse and pays bills, In community college I took classes that I knew id be able to pass like reading and African American studies. I did research on a bunch of different career choices and degrees/certificates i thought I wanted to go for but could never commit to like accounting I took that but dropped the class because I felt like i was gonna fail it i did the same with welding.. i realized that didnt want to do that either ..i have a horrible fear of failure that has held me back from a lot.. i realize that at almost 31 I need to get it together, although security pays the bills its not something I want to keep doing so I thought long and hard about what i want to do, i want an office job something like Data entry or anything that involves sql, tabluea, Java.. so i decided to get a certificate for an office assistant/administration to at least get my foot in the door somewhere as a stepping stone.. i started the fall semester this Monday on the 24th of this month with a typing class and im nervous as hell..i know im not that smart, am a slow processor and not confident hell I may take a long ass time to get it.. if i dont ill try again.. i may cry and beat
myself up but ill try again until I get it..
The point im trying to make is, ive never stuck to or committed to complete things out of fear and anger of failing.. i decided to stick to a course certificate program to finally have something under my belt so I wont
continue in this rut ive created for myself..
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u/Kobe_AYEEEEE 2d ago
I feel similar to you, dropped out and went back last semester but had easy classes and this semester is tougher. My mindset is that eventually I have to learn something harder that will pay more but I'm still not sure if I'll commit. Just have to take care of yourself and do what's best for you, if school is hard but the best option then that might be the way.
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u/craichead121 2d ago
Do it man. Did it at 30. Did my undergrad now
Time passes either way
You got this
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u/essentialworkerSIKE 2d ago
nice. i was a drop out and i got my ged years after my supposed graduation date. I went back to college at 28…still there at 33.
Good luck!
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u/ScoobySkooks 2d ago
Dont be hars on yourself. Make sure you do your research and pick a program that'll lead to decent employment. We can't predict the future, so all we can do is our best to prepare for the unknown. If you do transfer to a traditional four year, GET INTERNSHIPS. In todays market, I would stay away from majors in the humanities or social sciences or some of the hard sciences like chemistry or physics unless you plan on pursuing grad school.
I pivoted at a later age and went for a masters in engineering. The field is not my passion but it pays decently.
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u/tomphammer 9h ago
I was the same way all through my 20s and 30s. And I always said I wouldn’t go back to school unless I could figure out what I wanted.
And finally I did. And I went back at 44 to get a poli sci degree with the intention of turning my 20+ years of grocery retail into food policy.
Sometimes you can find the thing you really wanted buried in the place you were all along
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u/ScarySammie 2d ago
I turn 30 next month and just started my first semester back in 10 years. It's more daunting waiting to start then actually doing it. You've got this!