So.. my life is weird

I feel like a failure but I shouldn’t

My life is so strange, I started university at 18 and so happy and managed to achieve a 2.1 in foundation year and then the pandemic happened… I was stalked by a guy in that university and left that university and went to law school, was enrolled late and failed 4 modules and passed 3 which was fine, I passed those four modules and went to second year in 2022 September.

This is where my life has gotten worse… I got bullied in second year to the extent where I failed every single module and was going to settle with an ordinary degree, I was on antidepressants and my PMDD was horrible, no one turned a blind eye when I got bullied… also I was HoH (hard of hearing) so they bullied me for being deaf…

So I failed second year and did not want an ordinary degree so I took a seven month break from university and went on benefits to look for a job, I paid off my debt in six months and have been losing weight since January 2025. I have lost 60+ pounds and I am very proud of myself and enrolled back to university to study for two years to get my degree in honours.

However, I will be 26 years old when I graduate… the best part is it is online and I can work as a flight attendant and manage those 60 credits or I could settle for a ordinary degree and move on with my life…

Reply 1

Oma.on.fleek

Original post by redstarfish23

I feel like a failure but I shouldn’t
My life is so strange, I started university at 18 and so happy and managed to achieve a 2.1 in foundation year and then the pandemic happened… I was stalked by a guy in that university and left that university and went to law school, was enrolled late and failed 4 modules and passed 3 which was fine, I passed those four modules and went to second year in 2022 September.
This is where my life has gotten worse… I got bullied in second year to the extent where I failed every single module and was going to settle with an ordinary degree, I was on antidepressants and my PMDD was horrible, no one turned a blind eye when I got bullied… also I was HoH (hard of hearing) so they bullied me for being deaf…
So I failed second year and did not want an ordinary degree so I took a seven month break from university and went on benefits to look for a job, I paid off my debt in six months and have been losing weight since January 2025. I have lost 60+ pounds and I am very proud of myself and enrolled back to university to study for two years to get my degree in honours.
However, I will be 26 years old when I graduate… the best part is it is online and I can work as a flight attendant and manage those 60 credits or I could settle for a ordinary degree and move on with my life…

Hey, first of all, I want to say you’re really strong for coming this far despite everything you’ve faced. It’s okay to feel like life’s been tough—your experiences are valid and you’re not alone.
• Age is just a number. Finishing your degree at 26 or later doesn’t define your success. What matters is you’re taking control and working toward your goals on your own terms.
• Your mental and physical health come first. It’s amazing you’re managing your health better and losing weight — keep prioritizing yourself. That strength will help you handle your studies and work.
• Doing your degree online while working as a flight attendant sounds like a great way to balance earning and learning. Flexible options like that are real wins!
• If you feel the ordinary degree isn’t what you want, don’t settle just because of pressure or timelines. But also, remember an ordinary degree is still a valuable achievement and a step forward.
• Don’t hesitate to seek support — from university services, counselors, or even online groups. You deserve respect and help, not bullying or stigma.
• You’ve already overcome so much; keep believing in yourself and take it one day at a time. Graduation isn’t just about a certificate, it’s about your journey and growth.

Reply 2

UCLan Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by redstarfish23

I feel like a failure but I shouldn’t
My life is so strange, I started university at 18 and so happy and managed to achieve a 2.1 in foundation year and then the pandemic happened… I was stalked by a guy in that university and left that university and went to law school, was enrolled late and failed 4 modules and passed 3 which was fine, I passed those four modules and went to second year in 2022 September.
This is where my life has gotten worse… I got bullied in second year to the extent where I failed every single module and was going to settle with an ordinary degree, I was on antidepressants and my PMDD was horrible, no one turned a blind eye when I got bullied… also I was HoH (hard of hearing) so they bullied me for being deaf…
So I failed second year and did not want an ordinary degree so I took a seven month break from university and went on benefits to look for a job, I paid off my debt in six months and have been losing weight since January 2025. I have lost 60+ pounds and I am very proud of myself and enrolled back to university to study for two years to get my degree in honours.
However, I will be 26 years old when I graduate… the best part is it is online and I can work as a flight attendant and manage those 60 credits or I could settle for a ordinary degree and move on with my life…

Hi @redstarfish23,

I'm sorry to hear that you went through all of that however, well done for pushing through and keeping going. You should definitely be proud! I wouldn't worry about the age you will be when you graduate, a lot of students are similar age to you. You will definitely not be alone.

It's great that you put a pause on studying, worked on yourself and lost some weight. Being healthy physically and mentally is so important so well done!

You definitely shouldn't feel like a failure as you seem to know what is right for you and you are taking the right steps to get there. Working as a flight attendant whilst studying online will make your finances more manageable and is another way to meet new people with similar interests.

There is also tons of support you can get if you ever need it. Don't be scared to ask for support from your lecturer, the wellbeing support at the university and even your class mates.

Hope this helps and best of luck! 🙂
^Zac

Reply 3

University of Bath

Official Rep

Original post by redstarfish23

I feel like a failure but I shouldn’t
My life is so strange, I started university at 18 and so happy and managed to achieve a 2.1 in foundation year and then the pandemic happened… I was stalked by a guy in that university and left that university and went to law school, was enrolled late and failed 4 modules and passed 3 which was fine, I passed those four modules and went to second year in 2022 September.
This is where my life has gotten worse… I got bullied in second year to the extent where I failed every single module and was going to settle with an ordinary degree, I was on antidepressants and my PMDD was horrible, no one turned a blind eye when I got bullied… also I was HoH (hard of hearing) so they bullied me for being deaf…
So I failed second year and did not want an ordinary degree so I took a seven month break from university and went on benefits to look for a job, I paid off my debt in six months and have been losing weight since January 2025. I have lost 60+ pounds and I am very proud of myself and enrolled back to university to study for two years to get my degree in honours.
However, I will be 26 years old when I graduate… the best part is it is online and I can work as a flight attendant and manage those 60 credits or I could settle for a ordinary degree and move on with my life…

Hi there Starfish,

I agree with you - you have absolutely no reason at all to feel like a failure, quite the opposite. It sounds to me like you have risen up from a very difficult couple of years and are now well on track to getting where you want to be.

I am very sorry to hear you experienced bullying - if this has caused you a lot of trouble and it continues to trouble you then please don't hesitate to reach out for some support from uni or your GP.

What you should do next is completely down to what you want to do and where you want to be - no one's decision but yours. Going along with an ordinary degree would be fine for moving on with life as there are many jobs you will be able to go into in your chosen field of study and also plenty you can do with any degree (working with animals, in marketing/copywriting, project management, working with children, working at a university or school). However if you wanted to extra credits then this will give you some more experience, knowledge and time to think about what you'd like to do longer-term whilst earning some good money for the future. No need to worry at all about how old you'll be on graduation because it is becoming more and more normal for people to graduate later in life nowadays.

Whatever you decide to do I'm sure you'll make the most of it - it sounds like you've come a long way and have some really exciting and much brighter times ahead! Wishing you the very best of luck.

University of Bath

Reply 4

hallamstudents

Official Rep

Original post by redstarfish23

I feel like a failure but I shouldn’t
My life is so strange, I started university at 18 and so happy and managed to achieve a 2.1 in foundation year and then the pandemic happened… I was stalked by a guy in that university and left that university and went to law school, was enrolled late and failed 4 modules and passed 3 which was fine, I passed those four modules and went to second year in 2022 September.
This is where my life has gotten worse… I got bullied in second year to the extent where I failed every single module and was going to settle with an ordinary degree, I was on antidepressants and my PMDD was horrible, no one turned a blind eye when I got bullied… also I was HoH (hard of hearing) so they bullied me for being deaf…
So I failed second year and did not want an ordinary degree so I took a seven month break from university and went on benefits to look for a job, I paid off my debt in six months and have been losing weight since January 2025. I have lost 60+ pounds and I am very proud of myself and enrolled back to university to study for two years to get my degree in honours.
However, I will be 26 years old when I graduate… the best part is it is online and I can work as a flight attendant and manage those 60 credits or I could settle for a ordinary degree and move on with my life…

Hi @redstarfish23 ,

Firstly, congratulations for deciding to go back to university and getting a place at a uni that sounds ideal for you! It can be hard to decide to go back to education but it sounds like a great idea and something that you really want to do 🙂

Being 26 when you graduate is not a problem! So many people go to university and graduate at this age so you will not be alone in this at all. It sounds like you have a great job as a flight attendant at the moment so you will have options when you graduate!

Again, like others have said, if you are ever struggling at all while you are at Uni, or you feel you need any support at all. make sure you contact the support services at your uni. They will be there for you and there will be a dedicated student support or well-being team that is there to help you.

Don't let the fact that your degree is online hold you back - you will still get the same amount of support, from tutors and general support teams so make sure you make use of these!

I hope all goes well for you,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador.