Is it too late for me to go away to school at 19 years old?

[elisee8d]

I'm not sure if this is even where I should post this, but I've had a few threads on here, and everyone has always been pretty supportive, so here goes..

 

Alright, so I'm 19 years old. I have yet to start college, I dropped out of high school my senior year because I was dealing with depression and anxiety, also running the risk of not being able to graduate, so I just didn't see the point in staying and having to repeat the year of school. I did get my GED as soon as I was able to, but I feel like I've just been existing since then. I've been out of school since May 2011. I've worked a few jobs on and off, but I can't help but feel like I'm doing nothing with my life. I got out of a 3 year relationship a couple of months ago, and once that ended, I started realizing how much everyone else had moved on with their lives while I hadn't at all. Most of my best friends that I had known for years (but didn't see or speak to very often while in that relationship) went away to college, but that didn't bother me that much because I still had my boyfriend who I spent most of my time with, and like I said, I hardly saw them all that much. The friends I had in high school, I don't even speak with anymore. They're all either not in college and still partying like they're in high school, or at community college. I feel like there's just nothing left for me in this town anymore.

 

Anyways, when I lost him, I realized how much I lost almost everyone else while I thought I was building a future with him. I just want to start my life, I want to go back to school, I want to make new friends and meet new people since there's nothing and no one of any desire to me here. I hardly have any friends, I'm almost always home... and it's terrible. I was never this homebody person. In high school, I always was out, I had tons of friends, and always had plans. It just sucks to feel like such a loser. I hate what the people I used to hang out with are doing with their lives though. I don't wanna party like I did in high school, and it's like that's all these people in my town care about. I just feel lost.

 

I've been planning on starting community college this upcoming semester, and I would love to go away to school this coming fall... however, I haven't picked out any schools or anything, and I don't even really know what I want to do. I have a couple of ideas in mind, but nothing I have my heart set on. There's one school I really like, but 2 of my friends go there, and another one of my friends is transferring there in the fall. I only saw the school when I went there to visit them, and I don't want to seem like I'm just following in their footsteps and not doing my own thing. Is that a dumb reason not to go to the school? I also don't want to be dorming with freshmen. I'll be 20 by this coming fall, and I'll be way behind compared to everyone else my age.

 

I guess I'm just looking for some advice or motivation or even just someone's opinion. I really can't talk to anyone in my life about this, because I feel like they wouldn't take me seriously or would just make me feel even worse about all of this. Thanks for responses in advance, guys.

[PrinceAli94]

Hey, I'm 19 too. I was considering dropping out of high school in my senior year also, because at last minute, I found out that I was missing a required credit to graduate. I considered leaving and getting a GED then going to college, but decided to fight through and finally managed to grad, though I missed the ceremony. Basically it was an extremely depressing experience and I can relate to how you feel. I was just existing too, and it felt terrible.

 

Also recently got out of a relationship, and moving forward is really daunting. I'd say the important thing to do is ask yourself what you want most. And obviously from your post, is to go to college, make new friends, and get a new lease on life.

 

I'm trying the same thing, going to a community college right now. However, here's some advice. Have a long term goal in mind and don't let it go. I'm only going to CC now because I didn't really have anything else to do post high school. All my friends, like yours, had moved on to university's and new friends, which in a lot of ways is the nature of high school friendships. Don't go unless you're determined to make a change, for me going right now was a mistake as I feel no initiative to get my work done. If you do go to CC, be prepared to put up with the annoying feeling of wasted time. The general education classes can be tedious and will make you think twice about going to school period. It helps if you're working towards a major, so at least then you know your hard work and time isn't pointless.

[LionTamer]

You are definitely not too old! I'm 50 and currently in a master's program. You don't have to choose a major right away. And even if you did, you could always change your mind. Have you filled out a FAFSA for financial aid? Go to fafsa.gov (I think that's it). Make sure it's their official site; some pretend to be legitimate but then charge you to fill out an application. Remember too, that going to a school that's out of state will cost about twice what it would cost if you went in-state. College is great! Don't wait to go.

Edited December 24, 2012 by LionTamer
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[Nightsky]

I wouldn't go to school just to find direction. Get a job. Read. Learn on your own. Only go to school if its to make money like getting a degree in Chemical engineering or some trade school like plumbing. Don't just go to school cause your lost and get into major debt over and over priced resume filler like BA in English.