I’m registered for a Medical Assistant Certificate Program that starts in Sept. I’ll finish in Dec 2013 and have the option of becoming Certified through the AMA. I have never been so scared in my life!
I’ve been unemployed for over a year and had over seven temp jobs in the past four years so I figured, “now or never.” It is a career I’ve always wanted to pursue, just never was the ‘right’ time…
Any fellow students with helpful hints/advice would be greatly appreciated. The classes are intense and 1/2 of it is online which I’ve never done. Meaning I am in charge of when my work gets done.
Thank you in advance and I sincerely look forward to your responses.
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Shirley -Unfortunately we don't have control over others decisions. From what I have read, you are in the beginning of your relationship with this man. Although 8 months is time enough to sort through feelings, I'm not sure you should take him exactl
Hello old lady2,and JKL..... my location is 1/4 mile out of Sun River Oregon, Bend is the town. It is a ski, area in the winter, which may or may not be a down side. There are many older people that cross country, ski, and snowmobile. In the win
Loved your poem and will share with my yoga class tonight!
Yay for you! I know how scary and yet exciting it can be, I am proud of you for going for it. It is hard to re-invent yourself at any age and at our age finding a new job in our previous field in this economy is next to impossible. Companies just aren’t hiring and those that are are hiring younger staff. Ugh! But I just know that you will do great!!!
I am also hoping to start school again at this late stage and gain a graduate certificate in multiple-religious studies. It is something I have always been so interested in but never thought about being able to move out of ‘corporate’ america. It starts in Sept also and is a 2 year program, but I am waiting to hear if I recvd the grant I applied for, because that is the only way it will be financially possible. Fortunately I am still employed although the writing is on wall, so I have time to decide how to use these new skills and knowledge.
oh, and I meant to say that the studies I will be starting are also all online. I think that just making sure you really schedule the time will be the challenge. The classroom should be fine – friends have gone back and had classes that they were the only one over 25 but after the first week or 2 they were comfortable. Good Luck!!
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement & advise! I have my fingers crossed for you receiving the grant and wish you well on your adventure!
While not a student now, I was a returned undergraduate in my late 20s, after working since I was 19. BIG adjustments and LOTS of enthusiasm! Having succeeded in earning my BA (and changing my initial goals/concentration with a 180), I went on to earn my MFA (terminal degree). After 8 years of teaching and having my work published, more choices in ’96 started me on (another) new path that has sustained me since and integrated it all.
Both your initial post, Dragonfly, and your reply, Abundance, have all the motivation you each need – “now or never” and “…something I’ve always been so interested in…”. That’s the first step – follow your heart, create your own destiny, making choices and not taking “No” or “Impossible” is your acceptable answers.
On a more practical and pragmatic level, I highly recommend a few considerations: 1. schedule your time and keep to that schedule – time for school/class work, time for family/friends, time for yourself — 2. don’t sweat the “small stuff” – as you proceed through your studies you’ll learn what those are – let ‘em go and get back to your best work and concentration — 3. enjoy your new journey, celebrate your successes (large and/or “small”), learn from your mistakes, keep the door open for unexpected possibilities.
I celebrate your new ventures – huzzah!
Please be free to let me know if I can help you and your endeavors in any way(s).
Cheers!
I wrote about my life of overcoming and thriving (poverty, molestation, abuse) and won a scholarship at age 60; I am a Freshman at age 65 (social work/counseling) after I pass my next class I eill be consdidered a sophomore; that makes me S O excited! I will have to live to be 100 to gt my Master’s…everyone who knows me, knows I will! I work at a University and they pay my tuition; unfortunately I failed my last class. It was the class that made me lose my will to live: Logic……appalling and useless in my view!
I am a dancer, singer, author, poetess, veteran and student!
Alicia, you rock! We have much in common. I am reentering scool at 57 to complete a 2yr social work program, with then 4 and 1/2 yrs college under my belt , hope to find an applicable bachelors program and then on to a masters in psychology.Some of us have an insatiable curiousity that wont let us go! Along with that, I have had for a very long time, a restlessness and sadness, cognizant that I have not yet actualized my true and best self. My 5 children are now grown and about their own lives and how great this time is. I am free to pursue my passions and callings. I have a very supportive husband who is proud of me. I am also a dancer. Dancing has been a love and passion since childhood. My husband and I have studied ballroom dancing together for the past 20 yrs and regularly go out social dancing. You are a great inspiration! Thank you for encouraging me to keep following my dreams!
Dragonfly,
I am 50 and started a second master’s degree last fall. It’s mostly online and has two residency periods each of the two years. It has been a far different experience from either my BA many years ago or my other master’s which I did part-time while working. I can’t pretend it has been easy. But I also have the challenge of “chemo brain”. I finished chemo all of a couple of months before starting and it has had an impact on me.
However, if I learned nothing else from my cancer experience, it is that you shouldn’t keep putting off the things that you really want to do, even if they are hard and scary. Chances are it will be a lot of work. Chances are you will have to push yourself out of your comfort zone. The fact that you want it makes it worth any stress you feel.
Jessan offers some excellent advice. I would add that this is your education and you need to judge for yourself what value you’re getting from it. Of course, we all want the marks but they don’t tell the entire story. I’m still struggling with that. The reality is that if you’re doing well enough to get the certification at the end of it all AND you feel like you’re gaining skills and knowledge, it doesn’t matter how high your marks are. Your diploma will look the same as everyone else’s.
Personally I love online courses. My time is mine own to manage. If I can offer some practical advice, figure out how to manage your time and your stuff to suit you. Everyone is different so there isn’t one perfect system. I’m old-school (and have chemo brain) so I need to print the course materials. I develop tabbed binders with everything easily findable for each course. I develop calendars and lists to keep my readings in order and so that I can coordinate my school/life schedules. Whatever works.
I also can’t function late at night so I organize my time to do readings or write papers when I am going to do the best work with the least amount of stress. That’s the nice thing about online courses: unless there are scheduled chats to attend, you just need to make the submission dates/times. How you do it is up to you.
Also, focus on what will give you the biggest bang for your buck. Usually instructors lay out where all the marks will come from. Some assignments are important and demand serious attention. Others might not do much for your marks but can still suck up time. For example, my last course had weekly readings responses that were huge time-sinks. The problem was that all of them together were viewed as “participation” and contributed 10% to the final mark. I realized that I’d get the 10% whether I spent hours on an outstanding mini-essay every week or if I whipped off something short and sweet just to do the post. The real marks were in a major assignment and that is where I focused my time and energy.
Don’t ignore your family, friends and personal needs. This is going to be just part of who you are. It might be important but it shouldn’t take over your life. A little me-time will give you the energy to keep going.
Exciting times! Good luck and don’t get too stressed right at the beginning. It can take some time to get to know how the program functions, the other students and the instructors. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You will find that others want to know the answers too and they will respect you for speaking up.
Phyllis
Dragonfly I am 57 and will be starting my last semester before my student teaching in January 2013. Although this has been scary and exhausting at times, it has also been one of the best growth experiences that I have ever had, aside from working in a children’s psych hospital years ago. I had learned stuff that I never would have if I stayed in my teacher assistant job. Best of all I realize that my brain is vibrant and smarter than ever, and this has really surprised me. My life experiences have given me a perspective that my younger classmates, and many of the teachers I have worked with don’t have. It has also made me a better writer, a person not afraid to work hard, and confident to speak my mind. If I can do this, I know that you can….. just take it a step at a time.
Hello Erma, hooray for you! Thank you for encouraging me to continue on my educational/life fulfillment course. I am also 57, will be 58 in December, shocked to realize I will actually be 60 one day. Ouch! May as well go forward with courage, living and loving my life to the fullest! The ladies on here are a real inspiration to me and make me realize there are more like me, those who want more out of life and are connected to our own worth and value and want to yet leave our mark. I will be returning to school in 6 days to complete a 2 yr social work degree, I will then have 4and 1/2 yrs of college credits but no bachelors. My goals are to find a bachelors degree program to which most of my credits are transferable and then on to a masters in psychology or counseling.I did my first yr in this program in 2010, had an injury and couldnt return last yr. But now on to the future, have some trepidation on reentering the classroom, will be looking for those “older” students. I am determined to enjoy it. I am also a massage therapist with my husband but realized at least 5 yrs ago that my true passion and calling are to the inner person. I want so much to participate in real ways in assisting others to achieve quality of life in any area. Thank you all you fabulous, courageous, determined women for helping me to keep my chin up! Too many naysayers out there or people who just dont get it, your support is invaluable.