nursev said:

KingBAD said:

it ain't 57-60

which is when i will be

embarkin on my path to

a career.

What u gonna do Bady?

i don't know, but there won't be a lot of labor involved

60.

Practically, it depends on where you live, your qualifications and what career you'd want to dive into.

Theoretically, it is never too late. We should grasp every chance we have and be grateful for the diversities in our lives. We shouldn't do the things we suffer from and spend time in places we don't want to be. If there's a career path that would be more fulfilling for you, go for it, always.

[Edited 4/5/12 2:09am]

99.
If you're 99 years old,
then starting anything would probably be a bit too late.
So my answer is gonna be 99.

KoolEaze said:

A friend of mine was a nurse, too. She went to evening school, got her diploma, then enrolled at the university, studied four or five years, and now she´s a teacher.

A lot of really famous people out there started their careers quite late but I don´t really remember any names ( I read an article about this topic last week).

I think as long as your new career doesn´t involve extreme physical activity, like competitive boxing, basketball or football, or working as a security guard, a lot of late careers are possible.

Stephen King used to be an English teacher before he became a bestselling writer.

Who knows; perhaps, it was the classroom horrors of teaching English that inspired Stephen to write some of his best known work?

love,

Spirit

Spinlight said:

Are you going to change your username accordingly?

projectmanagerv

communityorganizerv

bartenderv

They just don't ring the same!

Spin,

You just made me chuckle.

love,

Spirit

Visionnaire said:

99.
If you're 99 years old,
then starting anything would probably be a bit too late.
So my answer is gonna be 99.

Given the current limits of science, I would agree with this answer. It's never too late, Nurse. It is, however, often all in the mind, which can be a tough area to work through, with the accumulation of experience.

However, you may be best placed to remember, that you have already been phenomenally successful (if I can hazard a guess) by virtue of the likely fact that you already have a professional qualification, a number of years of work experience, and I suspect, a degree of emotional/relational intelligence due to your current trade.

In other words, you have transferable skills, educational competence and work gravitas, should you decide to invest now in a trade which will be more rewarding for you physically, emotionally and financially in the medium to long run.

In this day and age, with the economic depression, increasing levels of uncertainty regarding trades for life, as well as the fact that industry has moved towards the conceptual, creative, age, the world really is your oyster.

I would say, however; social work is not necessarily the easiest of professions. It requires a significant degree of mental resilience.

But I applaud your new directions. It's never too late, until you die. And even then. some leading Eastern thinkers would say to you in that eventuality, it's still never too late, as you will be reborn again.

I'll cue the music: Comeback, as long as you promise not to cry this time around.

love,

Spirit

SpiritOtter said:

KoolEaze said:

A friend of mine was a nurse, too. She went to evening school, got her diploma, then enrolled at the university, studied four or five years, and now she´s a teacher.

A lot of really famous people out there started their careers quite late but I don´t really remember any names ( I read an article about this topic last week).

I think as long as your new career doesn´t involve extreme physical activity, like competitive boxing, basketball or football, or working as a security guard, a lot of late careers are possible.

Stephen King used to be an English teacher before he became a bestselling writer.

Who knows; perhaps, it was the classroom horrors of teaching English that inspired Stephen to write some of his best known work?

love,

Spirit

Actually, I've read Stephen King's memoir "On Writing" and he was just an English teacher as his "fall back" career. He had wanted to be a writer and had been writing since he was very little. In fact, he was very depressed being a teacher because he hadn't "made it" yet. The whole time he was teaching he was also writing at night in his little laundry room while living in a ramshackle trailor in Maine. They didn't even have a telephone and his wife worked at Dunkin Donuts. He said it was very depressing having her come home smelling like cruellers. Anyway, it's very inspiring, he was writing "Carrie" while teaching English and he said he felt like if nothing happened with "Carrie" he would be teaching for the rest of his life. But it took off and look at him now! Honestly, if anyone wants some inspiration about doing something else in life, or doing what you REALLY want to do, read "Stephen King on Writing" he makes you feel like you can really do it!

I'm in my early 40's and in school for X-Ray Tech because I need a change of pace also. School is no problem, but trying to find a part time job that will fit around school and my clinical's was a complete and total nightmare! I realized that I wasn't a spring chicken when I tried to work midnights and go to school I dropped that job like it was HOT!

debbiedean2 said:

I'm in my early 40's and in school for X-Ray Tech because I need a change of pace also. School is no problem, but trying to find a part time job that will fit around school and my clinical's was a complete and total nightmare! I realized that I wasn't a spring chicken when I tried to work midnights and go to school I dropped that job like it was HOT!

I've worked nights for years and it is not easy-going to school and work is difficult so you have my respect XRay-techs make great money I hope everything works out for you

nursev said:

debbiedean2 said:

I'm in my early 40's and in school for X-Ray Tech because I need a change of pace also. School is no problem, but trying to find a part time job that will fit around school and my clinical's was a complete and total nightmare! I realized that I wasn't a spring chicken when I tried to work midnights and go to school I dropped that job like it was HOT!

I've worked nights for years and it is not easy-going to school and work is difficult so you have my respect XRay-techs make great money I hope everything works out for you

Thanks! I hope everything will work in your favor also!

Looking to do something a little different from what I'm doing right now, I'm getting burnt out...and not that far from 30.

So how is the search going?

I hear you about changing careers, I'm 41 myself. I got a real estate license just as the housing market was going downhill, so I let it expire. I've been a school SLP for 10 yrs and am getting burned out with all the problems the children have. I feel a big responsibility to "fix them" and deal with unreasonable parents. It's not a good idea for me to change now, as I have a mortgage, loans & bills.

People have this view that nurses have it made, but dont realize all that you have to do and see. There seem to be many openings, but you really have to like it I think. Good luck with your interviews in another field helping people.

nursev said:

I went on an interview today for another position in another field outside of nursing and I'm feeling kinda old at 40 So how old do you think is too old to pursue something that you really wanna do if it makes you happy?

I think it depends on what you want to do.

Like, if you want to become a professional ballet dancer and you haven't spent all your teen years training for it, and you aren't about 20, then you're fucked.

Barring age-specific stuff like that, I think it's pretty much all open to you and it's only a matter of what limits you place on yourself.

Dren5 said:

nursev said:

I went on an interview today for another position in another field outside of nursing and I'm feeling kinda old at 40 So how old do you think is too old to pursue something that you really wanna do if it makes you happy?

I think it depends on what you want to do.

Like, if you want to become a professional ballet dancer and you haven't spent all your teen years training for it, and you aren't about 20, then you're fucked.

Barring age-specific stuff like that, I think it's pretty much all open to you and it's only a matter of what limits you place on yourself.

Yeah

alphastreet said:

Dren5 said:

I think it depends on what you want to do.

Like, if you want to become a professional ballet dancer and you haven't spent all your teen years training for it, and you aren't about 20, then you're fucked.

Barring age-specific stuff like that, I think it's pretty much all open to you and it's only a matter of what limits you place on yourself.

Yeah

Ikr? *wants to be the black Maria Kochetkova*

Dren5 said:

alphastreet said:

Yeah

Ikr? *wants to be the black Maria Kochetkova*

*wants to be an asian jackson*

What about being a pediatric nurse for little babies. No heavy lifting?

You could be Prince's sponge bath nurse???

kewlschool said:

What about being a pediatric nurse for little babies. No heavy lifting?

You could be Prince's sponge bath nurse???

I'm laughing at the thought of Princey getting one so hard tht I'm crying out loud

alphastreet said:

Dren5 said:

Ikr? *wants to be the black Maria Kochetkova*

*wants to be an asian jackson*

Girl, NEVA!

I'm turning 42 this year and I've spent the past couple years slowly phasing myself out of fashion styling and production so I can pursue my true passions. I'm much more interested in writing, food, music and general lifestyle trends, so I'm slowing carving a path for myself that will allow me to combine those interests to do something I love more at this stage in my life. Chile, just go for what 'cha know and try to get in where you fit in! There are so many stories out there of people who found careers that they liked long after they were settled into ones that bored them to tears and feeling unfufilled

CarrieMpls said:

nursev said:

Aww...this made me smile I really want this job-it's social work. I know it won't make me rich, but I really wanna be successful at it-I hope I get the job. I have another interview tomorrow for a similar position. I guess alot of people are having to reorganize their priorities here lately

Good luck to you! Hope your interview goes well.

And yes, I’m in a similar boat. I’ll be 37 in June, I’m an IT Project Manager and I’m considering going back to school to study nutrition. I’d like to be a nutritionist or registered dietician. And I’ll be pretty close to starting from scratch as I don’t currently have a degree.

It’s a lot to consider (especially how long it will take me to complete training), but I think it will ultimately be better for me. I have a great job, work with great people and I’m paid well, but I’m not passionate about it. I want to do something that genuinely interests me, finally.

This is exactly where I am.

When I decided to go into fashion 20 years ago, my interests and life priorities were so different, and the industry was also a different animal that had an incredible sense of artistry to it, and I also enjoyed the pay and travel perks tremendously. But the business has changed into something I neither recognize nor want to embrace as an art anymore , and I'm at a season in life now where my quality of life is determined by things that have a deeper sense of autheticity and meaning vs. the superficial. I've lost all passion and need to do something that really grabs me and inspires me. I know I'll always be connected to the business side of the fashion industry in some way (it's the only thing I know how to do ) but it will def. be on my own terms and in the direction of what moves me genuinely.

If you don't also mind starting over pay-wise, you're never too old.

Genesia said:

SavonOsco said:

Genesia said:

If you don't also mind starting over pay-wise, you're never too old.

Agreed..... if you've been on unemployment for a couple of months,then the pay won't be much of a problem I just had a talk with my wife about this, telling her 38 is not too old to change careers. V, I wish you the best of luck and hope you get the job

It's also easier to make a change if you have someone else helping to pull the wagon, so to speak. Harder for a single person who's already making a good living to make that leap - unless they're content to give up a lot to do it.

I thank all you guys for your kind words Alphastreet I didn't get the jobs so I've decided to go back to school in the fall to finish my Masters degree. I went to Grad school for about a year, but the degree was not what I really wanted. So I just went to work instead UTA has the Grad degree in Social Work that I want my son is going to college in the fall-so I figure to go back to work in the day time as a nurse to help my son pay for school and myself If I'm accepted I can go to school at night and I figure I'll be what 42 or 43 when I finish and still can work for a good twenty years or so

nursev said:

I thank all you guys for your kind words Alphastreet I didn't get the jobs so I've decided to go back to school in the fall to finish my Masters degree. I went to Grad school for about a year, but the degree was not what I really wanted. So I just went to work instead UTA has the Grad degree in Social Work that I want my son is going to college in the fall-so I figure to go back to work in the day time as a nurse to help my son pay for school and myself If I'm accepted I can go to school at night and I figure I'll be what 42 or 43 when I finish and still can work for a good twenty years or so

That sounds like an amazing plan!

I think that once people hit 40, they often realize a higher purpose, and that they need to do something they enjoy. The value of personal happiness is finally realized. I have restarted in my 40's and I am very happy I have. You are NEVER too old.

CarrieMpls said:

You’re never too old.

Sure, you may have to adjust your lifestyle if starting over means taking a significant pay cut, but I don’t think you’re ever too old for that either. It’s all in your attitude.

You may have other responsibilities that make it more difficult too (kids, partner, mortgage, etc.) but doesn’t have anything to do with age.

Julia Child didn't start teaching cooking till she was 39 and her first cookbook was published about 10 years later. (She was a copywriter and worked government research jobs previously.)

I'm gonna be on that track too, I think. I'm just getting going.

StillGotIt said:

I think that once people hit 40, they often realize a higher purpose, and that they need to do something they enjoy. The value of personal happiness is finally realized. I have restarted in my 40's and I am very happy I have. You are NEVER too old.

And then there is quarter life crisis for people like me For the longest time in my 20's, I was trying to behave and be around family and family friends and learn from them, but eventually stopped and was acting my age, but then that blew up in my face and I was trying to find purpose again.