Theres a saying i like whenever i feel the way you do..
Nothing great is ever going to happen to you if your not willing to look stupid sometimes. When you learn to ride a bike, you might fall off a few times and feel silly and get hurt, but its worth it isnt it once youve learnt.
Youve got at least another 30 years of work before retirement so to me time is not running out for you if you look at that way.
Just keep in mind how much you will be valued by the old pple you will care for and make a difference in their life as well as your own doing such a worthwhile job.

Birthdays can be rough, especially when you dont feel good about where your at. No wonder you're doubting yourself right now.

But it sounds like your on the right path - schooling in an area your passionate about - just now its time to pull the trigger and do it! The great thing about working with old people is that there is such a need for workers. So if you try one job and it doesnt work out for whatever reason, at least there are several other companies you could try.

Thank you both for your kind words, I know that I still have a lot of.working years ahead of me and as its something that I feel passionately about, I know its something that I will invest a lot of time and emotion into and I think its something that will give meaning and purpose to my own life aswell

I am assuming your female but maybe wrong....what about a family? getting married raising children? It can go along with being a working mom....or dad.....hugs

I can do any jobs or go to school. Still single.

You are not a failure. Society is fucked up in so many ways it's not even funny. You should totally go for what you want to do. You are not too old.

It's never too late to do what you really want to do. I started back to college in 2009, and graduated two years ago with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I was 55 years old at that point. Now I will finish out my career as an engineer and really enjoy it!

Hi
I can relate. When you feel, either because of you internal feelings of sadness and low self esteem and then those feelings are reinforced by those around you, it can be hard to take a risk to try something new.
I am in a work environment where I feel very isolated and excluded with no positive feedback.
I was out of work for a bit after surgery and during this time I felt so much better about myself.
And 35 is truly young. I don't know what you have done for work in the past, but working with older people, especially in their homes can be so rewarding. I find that environments with layer upon layer of authorities and lots of politics can = poor behavior by others: nothing but a step up from grade school tactics. I applaud you for going back to school--you will find your way. You need good fresh soil to sew you seeds--it;s hard to do when you are living among the weeds

I could have written exactly word by word as this is how feel too.
Society,friends,family,partner play a very important role in how you see yourself.
You can be the most good looking person in the world but if your family,friends doesn't acknowledge that you feel still feel unattractive.
When bad things happen to you,it changes you from inside,you start doubting yourself,every movement of your's is full of doubt and it sucks.I know how it feels.

The good part is its not something that cannot be cured but it will take a lot of time and effort.I am myself trying to be more positive,forcing myself to face my fears and it all seems quite futile as of now but its not.

I would suggest do what you like and don't care what others say as people would always have something to say to you.

You are not alone,I feel exactly the way you d.Talk to me please if you want to share anything I can give my perspective over it.

Hugs :)

just from reading your post i can see you are a good person for society. you have to be the change you want to see in the world and i think you are doing great!

i beat myself up too - the temptation is always there to be so self critical.

i wish upon you faith in your journey and faith in the process of life :)

Passion and a desire to help others is key. You've got that. As far as money, if you're making enough to live on, you're a winner. I realize it costs money to make money and college education is costly, so the real question is whether, at age 35, you want to take on and be saddled with student loans in excess of $35,000, and if there is any shortcut, any other avenue to beginning this new career besides college, like vocational/certification training, work study, internship, mentoring, etc.

Please don't live your life by Society's standards or I guess what you perceive them to be. I feel no one really lives up to those standards anyway. Life is very hard to live sometimes and you just have to pick yourself up and keep moving on. Live for your dreams and don't let anyone tell you differently. :)

Big hugs and best of luck.