xman
You're not as far away as you think! As I mentioned earlier, although I had a desire to become an optometrist a long time ago, marriage and children slowed me down tremendously and I ended up just joining the workforce. It wasn't until talking to the nurses in a hospital (when I was admitted for 2 weeks), that they convinced me I could never be too old! At the time I started back to school (community college as well) I only had 20 credits-- and that was just back in June. Although I don't suggest this to everyone (I was just hyper-motivated), after completing the summer term, at which time I completed another 6 credits, I enrolled for 21 credits the fall term (the current term). This term will be over in 4 1/2 weeks, giving me a total of 47 credits. I will graduate in May 2003 having only to take 13 credits in the Spring for a total of 60 credits. In the summer I will be transferring to UIC to finish up there. I'm telling you this to show you how just 5 months ago, my goal seemed so far away, yet I'm that much closer now! Another thing I'm going to attempt to do may help you as well. Instead of completing my undergrad degree (2 more years), I'm applying for early admission which means I will only have 1 year of college to complete after I graduate from community college in May 2003--that will knock another year off. So don't buy into that "I'm too old mentality". Your age will actually be an advantage for you. I know it has made me so much more focused than the younger people in my classes. I know what I have to do and I just do it. A piece of advice, though. Research this field and make sure that you have a definite interest in being an Optometrist; that interest will be what helps you stay on path in obtaining your goals when the road gets rough. Good luck!
🙂