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General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: miriam0920 on 02/08/2008 15:40:58

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: miriam0920 on 02/08/2008 15:40:58

Hello, let me introduce myself, my name is Marianne though some call me Miriam.  I'm almost 48 years old and my problem is that i want to become a chemist, yet I feel I am too old for that.  I spent my life working as a secretary and raising 5 children.  I have an AA in general studies.  One of my obstacles has been following my husband around the world.  He's a soldier.  Now he is ready to retire, and we have settle in Texas.  Now I feel cheated.  Because now he has done what he had to do yet I am faced with being ashame of attending chemistry classes with younger people.  I consider this site full of intelligent people and would like their opinion on the matter.  Would I be wasting my time studying chemistry because of my age?  Should I be embarrassed to go to school? or should I change my degree path?  Maybe environmental studies?   
Thank you for your replies.

Marianne 

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: Karen W. on 02/08/2008 16:03:07

Welcome to the forum Marianne!

NO!!! It is absolutely NEVER TO LATE!!!

I went back to school at 44! I say go for it. If this is something you love then it will be just fine.. I loved going back to school with all the younger kids.. it was a challenge for both me and them and I met some incredible young people and felt very privileged in knowing those wonderful minds I have met!

You can do it and if you like it. School was a piece of cake as far as the going back part.. I was scared and felt odd at first, but I was a straight 4.0 in my coursework and really did well! I thought it would be harder but it was not.. You will do fine.. Go for it!

Good Luck Marianne!

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: rosy on 02/08/2008 17:02:09

I have no idea how it would work in the states, but in the UK, depending on your university there are lots of the 'less young' doing degrees in various things. It would probably be worth making sure your maths is up to scratch before you start as that is often what holds people back in general, and it is something which one forgets easily so particularly the mature student (I have definitely forgotten a lot in the last 8 years or so).

good luck

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: Bored chemist on 02/08/2008 19:43:48

"Should I be embarrassed to go to school? "
No; learning is always good.
Don't think of it as  "old" think of it as "experienced".

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: miriam0920 on 02/08/2008 22:05:01

I'm being encourage.  I guess the best thing is to go now that I am healthy and still not 50.  I guess if I don't I will be regretting it all my life.  Thank you gals and guys for your encouragement. 

Marianne 

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: Karen W. on 02/08/2008 22:06:17

 Indeed you are being encouraged..and Your Welcome...GO GET EM!!!

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: blakestyger on 02/08/2008 22:48:47

As everybody has said it's never too late - I started at University level again at 50 when I retired and have been doing it since for 14 years, in many subjects. I would say that, as an ex-chemist, if I had my time again I'd probably not do a subject that needed quite so much lab' work and kit - also the learning about stuff you'll probably never meet - but that's only a personal view.
Don't forget, as a mature student you will be able to bring your life experiences to whatever you do at University and you'll have got past many of the uncertainties that attend being young and starting out - so you will be both a support and perhaps an inspiration to those you work with. Good luck.

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: Make it Lady on 02/08/2008 23:46:36

If I had my time over again, I would do Pharmacy. All the excitement of medicine without the long hours.

Most of the people that do badly at degree level do so because they are immature. Maturity is a help when it comes to the discipline of learning. Your brain may not be as quick but you will be more organised and the odd failure along the way won't phase you as much as it would someone younger. I was a slightly older student. I found that my knowledge of the system helped me to cut corners and make the right decisions.
Don't worry what anyone else thinks of you, when I am old I shall wear purple! 

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: miriam0920 on 04/08/2008 01:18:15

I absolutely love your respond.  I am going for it.

Marianne

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: Karen W. on 04/08/2008 04:16:06

YAYYYYYYYYYYY! Good luck and most of all have fun and enjoy the experience its wonderful learning new things at our age!

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: miriam0920 on 06/08/2008 18:45:56

Quote from: blakestyger on 02/08/2008 22:48:47

As everybody has said it's never too late - I started at University level again at 50 when I retired and have been doing it since for 14 years, in many subjects. I would say that, as an ex-chemist, if I had my time again I'd probably not do a subject that needed quite so much lab' work and kit - also the learning about stuff you'll probably never meet - but that's only a personal view.
Don't forget, as a mature student you will be able to bring your life experiences to whatever you do at University and you'll have got past many of the uncertainties that attend being young and starting out - so you will be both a support and perhaps an inspiration to those you work with. Good luck.

Blakestyler, did you retired as a chemist?  Or did you have to work in something else?  Now that you mentioned that most stuff you learned you didn't use it anyway.

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: blakestyger on 06/08/2008 22:16:20

No, as soon as I qualified I left the laboratory and went into production management - which was sugar manufacture so it narrowed the field considerably. Consequently, all the stuff I'd learned  about titanium compounds, terpenes and the like was forgotten in favour of the relatively limited chemistry required for sucrose extraction from beet; but as I was a manager I didn't even get to do any.
I qualified in the early 1970s - chemistry is even bigger now, but I guess most courses will be modular now and specialise sooner so it may be more friendly - we had an immensely wide syllabus then.

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: lightarrow on 07/08/2008 11:58:22

Hello Marianne!
I too don't think you are too late.
The beginning will be quite difficult, essentially for what said Rosy, but remember that, even if slowly, those difficulties will dissolve and after some time (don't worry about it) you will enjoy studying more and more every day.  [:)]

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: miriam0920 on 13/08/2008 18:34:46

Hello ,

I just wanted to share this good news for me.  I have registered to take Chemistry classes once again.  I am going for it.  I've been taking classes online but my fear was to attend face to face classes.  Thanks to all  your support I got the courage and went to the college.  To my surprise I indeed saw many "experienced" people registering for the Fall semester. 

So, I will continue to use this website, which I love, if I may find something difficult in class.

Thank you,

Marianne

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: Make it Lady on 13/08/2008 23:21:36

Well done for plucking up the courage. I hope it changes your life. Feel free to ask any difficult questions and we will all try to help.

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: lightarrow on 14/08/2008 14:22:34

The best wishes to you, Marianne!

Title: Is it too late for me?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/08/2008 17:52:36

Wonderful Marianne!!!! I am so proud of you!! You will do a great job and you will enjoy it! I know I have... Good luck and enjoy all those youngins to there is much to be learned from them also! YAYYYYYYYYYYYY!