Am I being Wise or Foolish?

Driving_Soon · 20 July 2008 at 8:23PM

Hey Guy's, I have people telling me I am being very wise, people telling me I am being very foolish, so i thought i would come here with people who know what they think.

I'm 20, I left school at 16 with little GCSE's ( 2 C's, 1 D, rest E's and F's ). I went to college for two years, Foundation and then Intermediate in IT GNVQ, Gained Merit in both course's. I then got then decided not to carry on at college and to work in shop near me. At first I enjoyed it, I was getting £800 a month, compared to the £30 a week from EMA and i thought I was rolling in the money haha!!

It was Only last October when i thought what Am I doing with my life? I never have been the most brightest child at school, but then again I never really tried my best! but I know I could do better than what i was doing! from about October till about April, it was complete hell! I didn't want to be thier, and felt I was wasting my life. The only good thing was while working I didn't have too many out-going's .. Had to pay Rent and driving lesson's and spent a lil on clothes but that's it! I managed to save 16k.

Now, I have been accepted into a college doing a two year BTEC Diploma course in Health and Social Care, the plan is to do this full time and then after two year's go on to a foundation degree or degree of some kind. ( I know i want a career in helping/caring for people but not exactly sure what, so this Diploma will also give me time to think about what degree too do. Also I plan to RE-take my English GCSE and Maths GCSE ( One this year, One the next Year.) .. I've worked out the next two year's will cost me roughly 5k from my savings ( Course Fee's, Rent, Travel ).

Now thats the plan but I'm not really sure I am being wise or stupid?
Some People ( not to mention any names ) have said that I am being very foolish, I gave up a job with a pay that was very suitable for me at the moment ( which is very true ) and I have managed to save up a decent amount, and I should just carry on with it.

To be honest I have not acutally been told I am doing the right thing from anyone! but deep down I think I am? but I guess I just need to know what other people think!

Cheers Guys for taking time to read this!

[Deleted User] · 20 July 2008 at 8:40PM

Only you can decide if you're making the right decision, it is, after all your life.
you admit the job is perfectly suitable for you, yet it's obviously not what you want to do or you wouldn't have viewed it as wasting your life.

It's great that you have realised what you want to do now and having savings behind you too is fantastic.

I think that if YOU think its the right direction for you then go for it.

Not much of a reply/advice I know, but for what it's worth, I think you're doing the right thing

SL x

themanbearpig · 20 July 2008 at 8:47PM

Is a degree really nessasary for your chosen career?

From my experience (a 3rd year Economics student at Nottingham university), the majority of jobs which have a graduate level entry, require a 2.1 and 280+ UCAS points (BBB A-Levels), and also usually only recruit from the top 15 universities, before they even look at you. GCSEs don't really matter, but are taken into account in the really competative sectors where everyone has a 2.1 from a top uni, and three top Alevel grades.
Although I really can't comment on social service careers. I havn't got a clue about the career entry routes. My experience is only in the finacial/banking sector.

Might be worth checking prospects.ac.uk, and find out what is required.

mummytofour · 20 July 2008 at 11:23PM

I think you sound amazing and focused. You have a very good plan, you have the finances sorted and you are to be admired. I think once you have done the 2 yr college course you will have a clearer understanding of where you want to go long term.
Go to college work hard and enjoy your time!

cardiffforthefacup · 20 July 2008 at 11:28PM

I reckon you have done some sound thinking and have got a good plan going. You should go ahead and try or you might regret it at a later date when you may have more commitments and less opportunity. Have you been to your local connextions for any advice? Good luck and remember a big change like this takes time to get used to.

Oldernotwiser · 20 July 2008 at 11:32PM

There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with your plans except I don't think that you should have to pay fees as this will be your first level 3 course. You should also be eligible for ALG. The only thing different that I'd suggest is that you look at an Access course as an alternative to the BTEC. This would be 1 year rather than 2 and you'll be studying with other adults rather than with 16/17 year olds. On the other hand, if they don't have this at your local college then the BTEC would be perfectly OK. Whichever course you do you could also work part time as this would help you keep more of your savings intact.Good luck.

pandora205 · 20 July 2008 at 11:35PM

Wow - that's an amazing amount to have saved at your age. Well done!

And good luck with your career. (This sounds like an excellent plan for someone so focused).

kimmoss88 · 21 July 2008 at 2:52AM

No you're not foolish. You've worked really hard to do what you want to do. Getting qualifications so that you can do a job you love for the rest of your working life isn't silly at all. Well done and good luck.

TigerAngel11 · 21 July 2008 at 10:24AM

Chances are you're being neither...

I'm not going to comment on the specifics of the situation: I will just say that it's your life and it's up to you to do what you want with it. It doesn't matter what other people think. Most people probably think my chosen university subject is a "foolish" choice, but I've done my research and know that it's more versatile than most people assume and it's the best path to take to give me a chance of getting into my chosen career. I'd rather try and fail than spend the rest of my life wondering what would have happened if I had the balls to do what I wanted.

So what if your job paid well? It's better to do what you want to do, even if it means a short-term drop in finances, than to stay dissatisfied just because you don't want to risk having less money. I don't want to make assumptions, but in my experience, the people who take the attitude that you should stick to a job just because the pay's good are usually the ones who are unhappy in their own jobs/lives. That tells you a lot.

Besides, education has so many benefits other than getting you a better-paid job or a certain career. Getting your Maths and English GCSEs alone will give you much more confidence. You'll probably realise you have more potential that you - and other people - previously thought and be inspired to go on and do what you want in other areas. If you're lucky, as I was when I took a Psychology A Level evening class this year, you could make a really good friend too!

It's taken me a while to realise it, but I tend to regret what I don't do rather than what I do.

Driving_Soon · 23 July 2008 at 9:52PM

Thanks guys for all the advice

I know it's down to me at the end of the day, and I think I have made my mind up tbh, but It's always nice to get advice from others!

I am thinking of not doing the BTEC Course and doing A levels .. but whatever I choose it won't change really the overall plan much!

Titch89 · 23 July 2008 at 9:53PM

Have you considered an Access Course?

Am I being Wise or Foolish?

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