I am a failure

[koneca]

I'm in the UK too, most of us are.
I'm sorry you think your decisions were poor, they may have been the right decisions for that time. I've made plenty of decisions that I wouldn't make now, but which were the right ones at that time. It never is too late. I went straight from GCSE's to A Levels, then straight to Uni to train as a teacher. I had to give that up due to the health of my husband and myself. I have, however gone back to uni and am doing my masters degree.
When I was training to teach I had friends there on the same course and year I was who were in their late 40s. Really, it never is too late.
What is it that you wish you were doing?

That is inspiring.
But I've had no responsibility like that. Just myself and couldn't manage it.
There are things I want to do but it boils down to what is possible really. Don't want to end up on another mickey mouse course.
Which could have been avoided by THINKING. And NOT GIVING UP ON MYSELF.
That's what I mean about stupid decisions and not taking full responsibility. I knew what the right decisions were and didn't take them seriously. The only thing in my way was having nowhere to go.

Hi and welcome. It really isn't too late.

Like Suzi, I went straight from GCSEs to A levels then uni. I started getting really I'll my last year and only just scraped a decent pass and then spent over a decade extremely ill and not working for half of it because I couldn't cope with day-to-day life so I think I get where you're coming from. It can change though.

I'm 38, have just graduated with a first-class degree in a completely unrelated subject to my first, I've started my Master's and I'm training to be a counsellor. If getting an education is what you want to do them go for it! You'll find loads of support here.

That is also inspiring
I really want to get an education, working your way through the system is hard on your own though.
This year I've made 15 applications, not sure what I'm doing, poking around at random to know what's realistic.
That's something that has always hurt. I thought one day I'll be able to meet someone experienced and intuitive, and hammer out a plan. I did not know that kind of help didn't exist.
I was good in school but had a nervous breakdown on my exams. Everyone gave up on me. And it's 20 years later mostly in poverty.
If I hadn't been an idiot all that could have been missed.