[folky_fairy]

Hi all,
I'm 24 and recently dropped out of uni due to stress and disliking the course. I'm currently volunteering in a charity shop due to lack of jobs as well as lack of self confidence (due to previous experience in paid employment) to apply for jobs. I'm undecided as to where to go next-I'd really like to continue my education and will definitely go to college within the next couple of years. However due to my lack of self confidence I feel I'm not capable of achieving the things I would like to. Although I love volunteering in the shop I feel really inadequate for not feeling confident enough to do paid work. After college I would possibly like to go onto university but feel I'd be too old in academic circles.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

[advent2]

(Original post by folky_fairy)
Hi all,
I'm 24 and recently dropped out of uni due to stress and disliking the course. I'm currently volunteering in a charity shop due to lack of jobs as well as lack of self confidence (due to previous experience in paid employment) to apply for jobs. I'm undecided as to where to go next-I'd really like to continue my education and will definitely go to college within the next couple of years. However due to my lack of self confidence I feel I'm not capable of achieving the things I would like to. Although I love volunteering in the shop I feel really inadequate for not feeling confident enough to do paid work. After college I would possibly like to go onto university but feel I'd be too old in academic circles.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

What was the cause of stress whilst you were at university and what happened in your previous employment?

The only difference between volunteering and paid work is that you don't get paid. You are doing more or less the same work that a paid person would do so that shouldn't be a barrier to paid work. I work at Citizens Advice Bureau in a paid position and I started as a volunteer. It was only through doing the voluntary work that I was able to gain the skills and experience necessary to secure a paid job. Never underestimate your value just because you are a volunteer. If anything, that probably exceeds your value as you are doing it for free.

When I did my degree, there were people of retirement age studying alongside of me. Trust me, 24 is not old.

[advent2]

(Original post by folky_fairy)
However due to my lack of self confidence I feel I'm not capable of achieving the things I would like to.

We all have the resources within us to achieve great things.

Like you, I have had confidence issues in the past.

When I was in high school, I achieved poor GCSE grades because I believed I wasn't good enough or intelligent enough to get the good grades so I never even bothered trying. After I left school, I changed my mindset and I went on to college and then university where I graduated with a 2.1 Law degree.

Nothing changed my intelligence, I changed my beliefs about myself and what I was capable of.

In 2010 I ran my first full marathon. A few years ago I would have said it would have been impossible for me to run a marathon, it could never happen. I'm not fit enough and insert every other excuse here. I didn't sudenly become a super heroe overnight and have the ability to run a marathon, I just changed my beliefs about what I could achieve.

A lot of things in life, it's just about persuading yourself to do them. I'm my own worst enemy. I create a lot of my barriers in life. I'm the person telling myself I cannot do things or I'm not good enough or that it will be too hard. And you do you know what I've discovered? That it's *******s. You can achieve things beyond your wildest dreams, you just need to be bold enough to try.

[beebie]

Hiya, to echo the above, age really makes no difference when you're at uni. SO many people are older than A-level leavers and I actually think it does them a lot of good for having that maturity. I myself am slightly older due to taking longer on my A-levels due to mental health, and was worried about being older, but it really is okay.

And I absolutely agree that voluntary work is invaluable. When I've had interviews my volunteering is what people have mentioned the most - you gain so many skills from it, and it sounds like you've been being pretty proactive in doing what you can to help yourself through this time.

Often it's taking the first leap into something that's the hardest - going that first time into a classroom, lecture theatre or new job etc... but when it's done once, it gets better. That's how confidence grows, by challenging your fears bit by bit.

Best of luck x

[folky_fairy]

[QUOTE=advent2;38028586]What was the cause of stress whilst you were at university and what happened in your previous employment?

Re university-I hated the course and couldn't cope with the workload.
Re: previous employment-I know this might sound stupid but one of the chefs mocked me constantly and really lowered my self esteem-I can certainly take the odd 'dig' but when you can't do anything at all without someone making snide remarks it makes you feel uncomfortable. I asked him to stop quite a few times but he just carried on. To be honest, I don't want to land myself in a situation like that again.

regards,

Alice_G

[PTK]

[QUOTE=folky_fairy;38070939]

(Original post by advent2)
What was the cause of stress whilst you were at university and what happened in your previous employment?

Re university-I hated the course and couldn't cope with the workload.
Re: previous employment-I know this might sound stupid but one of the chefs mocked me constantly and really lowered my self esteem-I can certainly take the odd 'dig' but when you can't do anything at all without someone making snide remarks it makes you feel uncomfortable. I asked him to stop quite a few times but he just carried on. To be honest, I don't want to land myself in a situation like that again.

regards,

Alice_G

Hi , What career pathway do you want to take : are you interested in becoming a teacher , business & managemmnet etc. Do you want to work with people- public health. We'll try and help you .

I am just wondering if you would be better taking a HND and then toping it up for one year to BA/BSc degree.

Most students tend to work in call centres - and there's quite a few jobs i this area if you go to temping agencies.

[PTK]

The Edexcel HND qualifcations are assessed via assignments and can be studied part-time and are slightly less stressful and have a high success rates.
Have a look at these courses in your area. ? The 2 year HND is equivalent to the first 2 years of a degree programme.