its never too late

I wasted my childhood years at school.  I did not even sit my GCSEs, big mistake.  I have since learned through life how these seemingly irrelevant qualifications can play a major part in furthering your education in later years which can also help to further your career.  I have done OK in my chosen profession and if i carry on working at my current level i can have a good life, but this is not an option for me, I want to do better, I want to broaden my knowledge in my chosen field of employment.

For many years now i have wanted to go back to college but i have always come up against problems.  I want to study for a degree in mechanical engineering as this degree would compliment my work.  I have been working in the composites industry now for 12 years and a degree in mechanical engineering along with my work experience would be a great proposal for any composites company.  I feel as though with my experience alone i could probably perform the duties of an engineer in my field but without the relevant paperwork potential employers wont even give me a first look let alone a second.

OK, so i need to go back to college to study a degree.  I talked with many college advisers and they all informed me that i would have no chance whatsoever of enrolling on the course of my choice because i don't have any GCSEs.  OK, so i need to study for my GCSEs first.  I enquired about studying for these but was amazed at the high cost of the courses.  At the time i could not afford to pay the necessary costs so studying went on hold.  About 2 years later i was again confronted with the hunger to further my education.  This time i did have the necessary funds so i again approached the college but again i had to put my studies on hold this time because of work.  I had landed a contract which meant i would have to work away from home.

I have not had any work now for about 2 months and yes money has been tight but i have taken this opportunity to do things that i want to do rather than things i have to.  The first thing i set about doing was writing.  I have always loved writing but unfortunately it does not pay the bills.  This does not mean that i cant write for pleasure though does it?  And so here i am.  I also started looking into going back to college.  I was ready to pay my fees and enrol to do my GCSEs when i thought, maybe i should do some research on the Internet first, which i did.  I found an adult education college that will allow me to study for my GCSEs absolutely free.  I was shocked.  They also are very flexible about the hours i have to study as they realise that people have to work.  Ive since been to the college for adult education and enrolled to study for my GCSEs, this starts in September.  They have also advised me that i may need to study another course as a entry requirement for the degree in engineering course. 

So all in all this break from work has been bad in a few ways but brilliant in many ways.  Its given me the opportunity to do the things i have always wanted to do but never had the time.

If you were like me and wanted to study but thought it was too late, its not.  Its never too late.  And if you want to do something badly enough you will find a way to find the time to do it.  I have fully prepared myself for the next 4-5 years of my life because i know it will be difficult to juggle the work and studies on a day to day basis but i feel the results will be worthwhile because they will better me as a person and enrich my life as well as my career.

Its never too late to do whatever you want to do.  The only person stopping you is you.