Comments on: Mid-Life Career Change – Can it Be Done? http://EmploymentDigest.net/2009/06/mid-life-career-change-can-it-be-done/ News, Tips and Hints for those in Career Transistion Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:39:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Cherie Renfrow Starry http://EmploymentDigest.net/2009/06/mid-life-career-change-can-it-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-32256 Cherie Renfrow Starry Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:56:23 +0000 http://www.EmploymentDigest.net/2009/06/mid-life-career-change-can-it-be-done/#comment-32256 After my husband died of leukemia, I went back to school (in my late 50s) to earn a doctorate in clinical psychology. Mind you–the average age of students in my class is around 25, and most of the profs are in their late 40s and mid 50s. My friends thought I was crazy. Yet, I had to try it. What a great decision I made! Not only am I learning skills to help others, but I’m also gaining a totally new perspective of what it means to be a twenty-something-year-old student trying to navigate in a world that is totally different from the one in which I lived when I was that age. I’ve found my fellow students to be totally accepting of me, and I have learned so much from them that I can use in the “real” world–their language is a constant source of entertainment; their opinions are enlightening and spot-on in most cases; their enthusiasm for life is contagious; and their can-do attitude bouys me up when I feel old and tired. In short, they make me feel alive. Those adults who say that the younger generation is doomed simply have not talked with–or listened to–them. They are simply delightful, and I find a renewed optimism in knowing that this generation will one day be running the country—-and probably the nursing home in which I will be living! Cherie Renfrow-Starry Therapist, Mental Health Counselor Edmonds, WA » After my husband died of leukemia, I went back to school (in my late 50s) to earn a doctorate in clinical psychology. Mind you–the average age of students in my class is around 25, and most of the profs are in their late 40s and mid 50s.

My friends thought I was crazy. Yet, I had to try it. What a great decision I made! Not only am I learning skills to help others, but I’m also gaining a totally new perspective of what it means to be a twenty-something-year-old student trying to navigate in a world that is totally different from the one in which I lived when I was that age. I’ve found my fellow students to be totally accepting of me, and I have learned so much from them that I can use in the “real” world–their language is a constant source of entertainment; their opinions are enlightening and spot-on in most cases; their enthusiasm for life is contagious; and their can-do attitude bouys me up when I feel old and tired. In short, they make me feel alive.

Those adults who say that the younger generation is doomed simply have not talked with–or listened to–them. They are simply delightful, and I find a renewed optimism in knowing that this generation will one day be running the country—-and probably the nursing home in which I will be living!

Cherie Renfrow-Starry
Therapist, Mental Health Counselor
Edmonds, WA

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]]> By: Sharon Leah http://EmploymentDigest.net/2009/06/mid-life-career-change-can-it-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-32292 Sharon Leah Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:55:05 +0000 http://www.EmploymentDigest.net/2009/06/mid-life-career-change-can-it-be-done/#comment-32292 Thank you for saying a midlife career change is possible. I decided at 50+ to go back to school and get my master's so I can make a career change. Working and going to school is not easy, and I recommend to anyone who wants to do it that they establish a focus and keep moving toward it. I'm looking forward to new opportunities over the next 15 or so years. Thank you for saying a midlife career change is possible. I decided at 50+ to go back to school and get my master's so I can make a career change. Working and going to school is not easy, and I recommend to anyone who wants to do it that they establish a focus and keep moving toward it. I'm looking forward to new opportunities over the next 15 or so years.

]]> By: Sharon Leah http://EmploymentDigest.net/2009/06/mid-life-career-change-can-it-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-31865 Sharon Leah Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:55:05 +0000 http://www.EmploymentDigest.net/2009/06/mid-life-career-change-can-it-be-done/#comment-31865 Thank you for saying a midlife career change is possible. I decided at 50+ to go back to school and get my master's so I can make a career change. Working and going to school is not easy, and I recommend to anyone who wants to do it that they establish a focus and keep moving toward it. I'm looking forward to new opportunities over the next 15 or so years. Thank you for saying a midlife career change is possible. I decided at 50+ to go back to school and get my master's so I can make a career change. Working and going to school is not easy, and I recommend to anyone who wants to do it that they establish a focus and keep moving toward it. I'm looking forward to new opportunities over the next 15 or so years.

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