Is There Any Shame for Returning to School at 40?

Page 1 of 1 [ 3 posts ] 

SilentBob84
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse

Joined: 27 Sep 2025
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Posts: 34
Location: SC

28 Sep 2025, 1:53 am

I know the answer. So, why post this?
Because I just want to know if there are stories anyone can share. I am considering going back to school soon. I do have fear of failure once again, though.

My story..
I tried college once, technical school, really, and it didn't work out. The problem? Well, it's a number of things that stacked up. First, the social pressure was becoming overwhelming when I was tasked to do a group project for the first time in a class. I am not good in a team setting with communication. Then, my vehicle broke down and the pressures of life all lead to my drop out and isolation at home. It's crazy too because my school is so small my major, web design, was a solo class. I was the only student. So that part was ideal. I even had the courage to tutor a student when asked. That interaction didn't lead to anything, though.



MartineRomy
Sea Gull
Sea Gull

User avatar

Joined: 24 Sep 2025
Age: 50
Gender: Female
Posts: 213
Location: Belgium

28 Sep 2025, 3:52 am

When I felt I could no longer function in IT (not up to my own extremely high moral standards at the time) I had quit my job and wanted to do something else. Since I had been stereotype 'all computers all the time' and dad was pretty good at pointing out I wasn't good in anything. Used to like model building and tinkering around and yes, my manual skills are not exactly the best.
CNC sounded like a mix, you get actual results and enough tech stuff to keep me happy. Enrolled in classes (regular fulltime 'dayschool') but due to completely different background I had to go trough the full metalworking trajectory. Wasn't good at everything but struggled trough. Fellow students reminded me of highschool sometimes, some openly disliked me, most didn't care some pretended to like me 'for being good at the theoretical stuff'. 0 contacts of that period left. Technical stuff ok, what nearly got me to leave a few times were the people things. I tried, they did not. Their loss. (now I need to believe what I write).
Internship evaluation ok, could stay if they didn't have to pay for me. "does what is asked and follows guidelines" Wouldn't fit in the team (the one time that was actually correct). Sat in classes few times after internship but nothing to do anymore so didn't return. Seems they did give me my certification and I pass.
Didn't get a job in that field, know I would never be accepted but I did learn I do not suck at everything. Mom now lives with someone who is more active with metalworking and he did appreciate it. Yey. Calling him my '+ dad' or heaven forbid Daddy would be too weird. Really suck at welding, that part of the metal stuff is not for me. Tendency to think I am not as good as I am but that bit is stand-up comedy scale bad. Can't be good at everything.

I also followed 3d modelling classes (Maxxon based, hate/love relation with the company from amiga days) and qualify as 'multimedia operator' afterwards. Evening classes, some pros and some more for interest and own creation. That ended better and far less stressful on the social requirements. It sort of started fixing my dislike for computer things and got me back into why I loved that technology. Just a tool now.

Mother claims I liked school. Often joke that was why I took so long and spend so much time there. Selective memory on both sides.

There are some compulsory trainings I did not and will not take... Haven't seen me in my full blown stubborn mood yet but will see how that goes. Those are not really 'returning to school' stuff.



SocOfAutism
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 2 Mar 2015
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,078

15 Oct 2025, 10:40 am

As long as it will lead to an actual job. If it's something that will not increase pay or likelihood of getting a position, I say just study on your own.

It shouldn't be hard, except for the dealing with other people part. Standards are starting to fall, so you being an older student should make the academic part easier for you.