Career Changes Support Group

This community is dedicated to the difficult challenges of transitioning from one career or job to a new one. Especially as we grow older, it can be very difficult to acquire the skills and relationships and take the financial risk to make the switch.

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SAMPAGUITA 01/27/2014

hello everyone. I would like to take advice from you guys. I am 29 years old and I am taking medications such as anti depressants and anxiolytics for almost 7 years. Been anxious (not all the time) and depressed (almost always) for a very long time. The root of my depression and anxiety is all about not having a job. To make the story short, I finshed the nursing licensure examination but wasnt able to practice it due to my mental condition. I always crack under pressure. I am finding it hard to cope with the stress of life. RIght now I 'm planning to go back to school to study education to be able to teach elementary kids. But something is holding me back. It was 2009 when I attemmpted to go back to school and study the same course which is education too. What happened, I think it was may 2nd or third day, I panicked because I couldn't see the table illustration on the black board. I was copying what was on the table and I just couldnt get it. So i panicked and i suddenly could not comprehend what my classmates are trying to tell me. So i dropped right away and didnt go back. Fast forward to 2012.. I went back to school again. At first it was okay and smooth. We're doing some reporting. And when it was my time to report, it was a disaster. I was humiliated because my english is bad. I can hardly explain the topic my concentration is low.But it was my fault because honestly i wasn't prepared. i was really humiliated, and then i didnt came back to school after the incident. But i realize that i could have than better if i was prepared. Now i want to try again. But my worry is, what if i couldnt find the topic that will be assigned to me on the library or in the internet? I worry about this stuff and its not helping. Do you think i should try to go back to school again?
Posted on 01/27/14, 06:57 am

SAMPAGUITA 01/27/2014

i know that its all about attitude. I gave up easily. A friend told me that when you start to do something, finish it. Even if things are hard, just go on and dont give up even if u encounter humiliation. She herself was humiliated because my friend whos taking eduation course wasnt that prepared

deleted_user 01/29/2014

Guess what, I give up easily too. I am 40 years old, and was in school at your age. Now that I am able to look back at 29 years old me, I would tell her behind stay in school. It feels good to accomplish something. That is where I am at 40. I just recently applied for school again, and this time, come hell or high water I am going to make it. No matter how long it takes. So if you want to go back, you need to make a vow to yourself that no matter what you will make it through.. I wish you luck.

itsallgood 02/19/2014

I was thinking about going back to school myself, I'm 52, but low on funds, how are you guys paying for school?

Truhal 02/19/2014

I'm not in school now, but there are all sorts of grants out there. Just stay away from private student loans(says Suze Orman) as these are costly. Also consider a junior college. Saves lots of money that way. Avoid ending up with huge loans that you'll have to pay well into your old age.

Reed31 07/11/2014

I would suggest volunteering with school age children at a church or other faith community to make sure you're going to like it before going to school for it.

It also sounds like it'd be a good idea to address the root cause of your anxiety and depression.

I was recently tested for the MTHFR gene mutation. If you have it, you probably have low folate and B12 levels which can seriously impact mental health. May be worth getting tested.

deleted_user 07/17/2014

I feel your pain. YOU have excellent initiative and drive. You can do what ever you set your mind to do. You must first thogh work on your self esteem because something seems to be getting in your way. You are the only one that knows what this may be. Did you have a good childhood? I have felt anxiety when I was in nursing school as well. I think the instructors are trained and actually enjoy making the students uncomfortable. Our class started with 30 people and ended with only 12. Some did not pass the didactic part and some didn't pass the clinical part. I thought I was going to quit myself. I froze..giving a shot. the instructor prior to that made me so uncomfortable..but I managed to hang on..and discussed it with her calmly afterwards just a bit. This instrctor was a miserable person and one of the directors of the school so I was careful with what I said......so I just let that go..I just finished the program and earned my license. Job hunting now. I also found that because I am in menopause ...this could be why I am anxious...I have never been an anxious person . So I feel a bit better knowing this. about myself. You need to figure out what is really the root cause...You are on meds I read, so what does your therapist help you with? Are you honest? they cannot help you all the way if you are not honest.. with them.. Hugs and peace.

bellatrixm 10/08/2014

Hey there, just to assure you that you're not alone. It's really a pain in the neck to be thinking too much about things. Nope, I don't call it paranoia but rather simple worries. I guess, with all the bad things you've gone through, the humiliation and all, Focus and absorb some learning out of it and not the the emotional details of how it was and how it made you feel. preparations can help you to avoid being in such situations and Confidence, is definitely something you need to work on with. You can do it cause if I and other people did it, so can you!Good luck on going back to school, this time, make sure that you'll prove yourself that you will succeed. =)

NYgirl212 10/11/2014

Hi
This might be different than what you are asking but I strongly suggest that you try do get into substitute teaching before going to school for education. I struggle with anxiety and depression and I was doing much better until I went into teaching at the elementary level. You have to have really thick skin and be able to deal with emergencies (epi pens, fire and intruder drills) and kids with serious emotional and mental illness even in a regular education class. I found out after several years of severe depression that I couldn't handle the job. People tend not to believe that it is a high stress job but it is. I'm sure if you want to go back to school and you work on coping skills you would do a great job. I have worked in various industries and teaching is the hardest job I have ever had. Sometimes there is a difference between giving up and realizing something is just not right for you. If you already know how stressful teaching is and you want to do it anyway than please disregard all of this!

SAMPAGUITA 10/31/2014

hi all i would like to apologize for not replying right away. I have so many things going on and i feel like im withrawn and couldn't think on what to say. Been working on my "junk" for the longest time. To update you guys, I gave myself the chance to go to school again. So thats good news. I stayed and worked hard for 3 months. However as far as i can remember, I was struggling with this subject so ( i have to juggle 5 subjects) I decided to drop it. I felt really stupid because I dropped the wrong subject! I got stressed, overwhelmed and depressed when i found out. I have so many absences too. It was soo stressful because aside from that dropping the wrong one, all things like quizzes and presentation are happening simultaneously. so i decided to just give up. I feel that i couldnt hold on.

Some times , the thought of going back to school crosses my mind. but I have a big self doubt now. If ever that will be the 4th school, taking the same course. I feel useless. =(

Some of you here suggested being a volunteer. I know some organizations but I am not sure.

Self esteem and confidence is an aspect that i have to work on. I am really not happy with how i look and how i manage my life over all. I knew I needed to lose weight but i barely find motivation . =(

I dont know if we have substitute teaching here.

Thank you for all ur replies!

Thanks a bunch. BIG HUGS TO ALL! :)

Truhal 10/31/2014

Thanks for the update, but don't give up yet. Instead, try another tactic.

Here's my story: I attended college for two years, earning an associate degree. I started working right away. Eight years later my field started requiring a Bachelor's degree. I quit my job and went back. Boy did I have a rude awakening. I took 5 classes and did so badly that the school put me on probation. I transferred to another university and started failing there. I felt dumb and insecure. I had no job and just couldn't handle the courses. I changed my major and did worse. I changed it back with a different concentration and still struggled, dropping classes, taking them over and over again, only to get the same bad grades.

I was in line in the school bookstore about to return my books and drop-out when I saw this book on how to improve your memory using memory techniques. It was a small paperback that cost under ten dollars. I thought, what the heck, and bought it . Over the next few weeks I read it and started practicing what I read. I decided not to drop out, but signed up for another semester. My grades went from failing to straight Bs and As. Incredible!

I got my degree two years later, graduating with honors.

Sometimes you just need another method. In my case, I needed better memory techniques. I'm not one of those people who can read something once and get an A. I just needed to find a method that works for me.

I went to college again ten years ago and got straight As. Everyone thought I'd always been an excellent student. Far from it. I just had an excellent method.

Don't give up!

SAMPAGUITA 11/05/2014

thanks truhal. I am very glad u shared your story to us. Its inspiring. Sometimes I felt like im alone this world and that no one will understand. I am so thankful because the people around me esp my parents are very supportive.

i am still thinking if i would study in June ...i don't even know if i could keep up with the stress of teaching. Now i am not sure of what i want.

Right now i am thinking of enrolling at a make up school. Next yr. I told my mom about it and she said she'll support me.

I think for the mean time i should build my broken self. I have very low self esteem and confidence. I am trying to shift my membership on a daily basis. I hope i could concentrate and focus on that fist.

SAMPAGUITA 11/05/2014

im talking about my gym membership.

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