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Hi Sisters,
I would appreciate some honest feedback. I’m 53 years old and after my D is over (hopefully soon), I have to take a year off to give my brain time to process all the trauma I’ve had during the past 5 years. Then, I’m thinking of going to law school. I’ve never even thought about law until my divorce. I have an awesome lawyer and she’s really sparked my interest. I would be interested in matrimony law. I would have mortgage my house and take out student loans to pay for it. I’m very seriously considering this. What are your thoughts? Thanks.nap why not, as far as money there are many many grants for woman. start looking and applying for them you may be surprised to find that it can cost next to nothing. as far as age that has nothing to do with it really. i have 3 in collage right now. my kids tell me all the time about how many older adults are in their classes. my daughter told me they do really well and she loves how they have so much life experience to share. go for it you would do great i just know it’
much love kattHi NAP. I remember a question like this to Dear Abby. The woman said she was 38 years old and law school would be three years and she would be 41 when she finished. Abby asked her how old she would be in three years if she didn’t go to law school.
I have a daughter in law school and she loves it! I’m 53 too. Be my inspiration!! Love, Lylo
Dear NAP,
i say NEVER too old – do give yourself time, space and LOVE to heal. Remember the famous quote: “Be Still and Know That I Am God”… and when you are real – ly refreshed – then see if that call to the law is tugging at you. If yes, and your heart feels it to be a true call [and not something left over from …whatever…] then yes, definitely, you MUST head the call. Your heart always knows the way. All the best of everything. LOVE.Thanks Katt! I never thought about grants that I could maybe get. I guess the law school could not admit me due to age because that would be discrimination and that’s against the law!
Much love 2 u Katt,
NapThanks Lylo and Patriciat,
I agree, the time is going to pass anyway may as well do something new. It does sound interesting and I do feel pulled toward it. My therapist thinks I should too. I appreciate your thoughts!
Love, NapNAP, do exactly what you want and see what happens.
I know that’s more terrifying than the work of law school. That part you will do easily. And wouldn’t we love a legal mind here?Now that I’m 55 and stepped away from my life-consuming SA, I realize there’s lots of time left to my life and interesting things to do with it. You aren’t nearly done, honey!
love, D.
Yes NAP, do it! We are living longer and many famous people have had their most important achievements in their later (sometimes much later) years. I retired early and work harder now than I did when I was employed. Keeping our minds busy and learning new things is the best defense against dementia.
We are all capable of so much, we just have to give the big, ‘FUCK OFF’ to those who want to put us in rocking chairs. I think it’s because they are afraid of what we can accomplish.
Here’s some inspiration for all of us:
* At the age of 53, Ludwig van Beethoven completed his Ninth Symphony despite being deaf.
* Laura Ingalls Wilder published ‘Little House on the Prairie’ in her 60’s.
* Grandma Moses did not start painting until she was 77.
* J.R.R. Tolkien published the first volume of his fantasy series, Lord of the Rings at 62.
* Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring at 55.
* English novelist and journalist Daniel Defoe wrote his first and most famous novel, The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe at 59.
* Self-taught American primitive artist Morris Hirshfield began painting at 65.
* Gloria Steinem married for the first time at 66.
* Viktor Frankl, author of “Man’s Search for Meaning,” earned his airplane pilot’s license at 67.
* At 69 Ronald Wilson Reagan became the oldest man ever sworn in as President of the United States.
* At 69 Werner Berger became the oldest North American to scale the highest peaks on each of the world’s seven continents. He proposed to his girlfriend before he left.
* At the age of 70 Benjamin Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence.
* At 74, A Maori woman, Ramari Port, received her PhD in molecular medicine from the University of Auckland, NZ.
* Cancer survivor Barbara Hillary became one of the oldest people, and the first black woman, to reach the north pole at age 75.
* At age 80 Jessica Tandy became the oldest Oscar recipient for her work in Driving Miss Daisy.
* At 81 Rosa Parks received the Rosa Parks Peace Prize in Stockholm, Sweden.
* At age 82 Venus Ramey balanced on her walker and fired her handgun to shoot out an intruder’s tires. Ramey, winner of the 1944 Miss America pageant, confronted the man on her Kentucky farm and disabled his vehicle so he couldn’t escape.
* At age 84 Mae West starred in the movie Sextette.
* At 87 Mary Baker Eddy founded the Christian Science Monitor.
* Michelangelo created the architectural plans for the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli at age 88.
* At 91 (this one’s for you, NAP) Allan Stewart of New South Wales completed a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of New England. He said he finished what would have normally been a six-year degree in four and a half years “because of my age.”
* At 93 Mae Laborde launched her acting career as TV’s ubiquitous grandma. Since then she has acted in commercials for ESPN, Lexus and JP Morgan Chase, and she has appeared on MADtv and “Real Time with Bill Maher.”
* At 96 Dorothy P. Colleen Geeben was the oldest mayor in the United States. She served as the second mayor of Ocean Breeze Park, Florida, from 2001 to 2010.
* At age 99, for the second time in a year, Kathleen Slater successfully fought off intruders who attacked her in the middle of the night.And, last, but not least, Alice Porlock of Great Britain published her first book, Portrait of My Victorian Youth, when she was 102 years old.
Nap! How exciting! I love it!! Sam is in his 5th year of college (3 more to go) and he tried to talk me into it frequently! He thought it would be so cool if we were in college at the same time!
NEVER too old! And I think you can do anything you set your mind to! Look how far you have come, Missy!! I’m so proud of you!! <3NAP, I think that’s absolutely wonderful. My h is doing a mid-life career change, and I had bought him a book called ‘Tweeners’ about it. The author is Wendy Matthews. I haven’t read it myself, but it’s about people who have successfully made mid-life career changes, so you might be interested in it. I am rooting for you!
Love,
Annie xoxoNAP, I’m 48, finishing up my last year on an MS in clinical counseling. Many women in the program are older than I am, some in their 60’s. After we get the degree, we have to practice under supervision for 3 years before we’re fully licensed. So what? Everyone seems to be enjoying the challenge and the new phase in our lives. I say go for it.
Dear Nap,
I want to chime in and say “Why Not??” in keeping with the spirit of the Sisters……
Then I want to chime with some of the practical issues of going to Law School 🙂 Why….because in another life I went to Law school for a few weeks. 😉
First of all….it is bloody hard to get in and you need to start the application process well in advance.Second…it is expensive. At 53 you have to weigh the number of years you will be able to work afterwards to recoup the costs? I guess that depends on your financial situation and what you can spare,borrow, sell, cut back on ect?
Third…it is competitive. I have never met so many narcs and type A’s in one place in my life! It can be cut throat and is NOT for the faint of heart.
Fourth…it is hard work and the first year is bone crunchingly heavy and also stressful because they overload you with way more work than you could every complete and then leave you to decide how to prioritize what you absolutely have to do and what you can leave out. The first year students spend their first 2 weeks scheming how they can buy, borrow or steal the case notes off the second years.
Fifth…..I don’t know about the States but the job market for lawyers in Canada has dried up compared to years gone by.
Sixth…..as I said “Why the hell not?” 🙂
On the positive side….1)your age and the fact you are a woman should work in your favour to get you in the door? 2)The money is a consideration BUT you can always attend for a semester and if it doesn’t GRAB YOU …you can reconsider? It may lead you somewhere else? If you LOVE IT…then you will be on your way? 3) The work is hard BUT it is challenging and rewarding and you are not some kid who will be trying to manage boyfriend, part time job and getting drunk ect. while trying to learn?? 4) Most of those type A’s and Narcs are snot nosed kids who still have a great deal to learn about life…you could teach them and you have already had a 25 yr crash course in handling assholes of any age? 5) There will be OTHER mature students in your class from many diverse backgrounds 6) it will be stimulating and exciting and new and 7) by the time you graduate the economy will have turned around and you will find a job. 🙂
I say go for it Nap!!!! Don’t let your experience with your sicko SA define the rest of your life. Carpe Diem!!! LIFE is waiting…….. Karen xxPS maybe I will go back too!
YAY, us sisters will have our own personal attorney. Can you practise all over? You can specialize in woman divorcing SA’s. There are no regrets in trying. Talk to your lawyer about her ecperience and see what she suggests.
Hi NAP,
I say do whatever you are drawn to.
I have been listening to an audio book on spirituality. I know …really? But it is about listening to your inner voice which is often time your spirit or you guides..according to the author. So she says these little hints or thoughts, that seem way out of left field or just kinda appear out of nowhere, are your guides. So maybe your guides are telling you to do something??Also i was thinking about a career change awhile ago. My therapist went through this same thing, she had an older daughter in school, and had not finished her degree. She debated over what to do…she was deterred by the amount of time it would take, like 5 years or so. Friend said that well you will be 5 years older in five years whether you go to school or not, might as well be five years older with a degree, ins what you want to do.
The decision is ultimately yours. But i encourage you to follow your hearts desire. Wherever that my lead you.
Love,
FloraI agree with everyone else… Why not?
My aunt was a nurse most of her adult life. Sometime in her 50’s she decided she wanted to be an accountant. So she went back to school. When she was in her 60s she got braces.
My sister had braces in her 40s.
My mom wrote two books. At 76 and at 85.
and one other thing… as Big Bird says…
“There’s just one you… da doo duh duhhhh doooo…”
screw the competition. You’ll blow them out of the water, because you will show your clients immense amounts of pathos, compassion, nurturing, hand holding, and maybe even a tear or two… soft and sweet but tough as steel and cut throat, when she needs to be…
Go for it!
Hey Karen, why wouldn’t NAP….”be trying to manage boyfriend, part time job and getting drunk ect. while trying to learn??”. 😉
Love this stream of encouragement and loving support. I went back to school for my masters when I was 39 and finally got licensed as a therapist when I was 51. Now I’m 61 and am planning on making my glass art my primary focus while I get a part-time job in mental health. SO GO FOR IT and follow your heart. From these posts it sounds as if we have at least two future lawyers in our midst and God knows we need them. Love to you all,
LButterfly
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