Hi Bronwyn,

I have been where you are more times than I want to admit. It was not until about a year and a half ago that I had a wake up call and have started changing my life.

I will tell you that it is NEVER to late to go back to school and start your life over. I received my Bachelor’s degree when I was 32, and I was not the oldest graduate. We had many “older” students that were receiving their Bachelor’s degrees that year. The one thing I will tell you is that when you return to college as an “older” student you appreciate your education way more than those kids that have just finished high school. You have life experience that you can put into your education and there is SO much that you can contribute in classes.

I even worked on campus at my college. I worked in the Student Activities center, so I was around students that were almost half my age. They respected me and I made some amazing friendships with them. At times they would look to me for advice and they all admired me for what I was doing. It was great.

Currently, I am not using my degree in the position that I have and it irritates me, but over the past year I have realized that I am in the position I am in for some reason that is beyond my knowledge. I am also looking at going BACK to college, this time for my Master’s degree. Yes, I will be a college student once again at the age of 37.

What I have learned over the past year and a half is that everything happens for a reason and often times we have no idea why things happen at the time. Sometimes we discover the why, and sometimes we never know, but there is always a reason.

Take each day and put one step in front of the other. Pick one thing that you want to do and do one thing each day to work towards that goal. If it is losing weight, make it a point to park further away from the entrance of the store, maybe eat a salad for lunch, or drink 2 sodas instead of 5. If it is going back to school make a list of the things you like to do, look at different programs from different colleges, sign-up for 1 class at the community college for the next term/semester. Every little step towards your goal is one step closer than you were.

As for moving back in with your parents, don’t feel ashamed to move back in with your parents if that is what you need to do to move forward. Sometimes you have to take a step or 2 backwards in order to take some steps forward. Remember, if you are working towards a goal to get a different degree, then living with your parents saves you money on having to pay out for an apartment for a bit. It is NOT something that is “forever,” it is a temporary solution as you work on a permanent fix.

You are right where you need to be at this time. You are an AMAZING person with a TON of potential to do AMAZING things. Don’t let this little bump in the road keep you down.

Also, as someone else said, don’t try to read into people’s reactions to you. You do not know what they are thinking or dealing with. They may have just been told some bad news and are processing it, or they may be struggling like you and are afraid to share it. I have been told many times that I “look like a b***ch” and have been told to smile. I have a face that in it’s “normal” state may come across as being mad, upset, or b***chy, but I am really not feeling that way, I am actually very happy.

Good luck and take care!