Should I go back to school at 21 yrs of age?

To make a long story short..

At 18, I graduated from a private French Lycee in Canada.

I've always loved sketching and designing Fashion Illustrations and thought...

"I only love Art, Fashion, languages and Literature and am bad at everything else so I should become a Fashion designer since I am passionate and crazy about it!"

So, I applied at 2 prestigious Fashion schools in England and got rejected.

I was very sad and then got accepted at my least wanted school in L.A and thought,

"Ok, this is a sign. California is where I need to go study!"



Went there and switched to a community college with the same program but w/ lesser tuition fees. Well for 2 years I got depressed.

I was only good at the business/drawing part, and the making/sewing part even though I tried.

I was really bad, quite horrible in fact.

I know it's a skill that can be learned BUT not only was I bad.

I had no more will, confidence, ambition and passion left.

I had all four when I went alone to California supported by my parents.



For 2 yrs I kept wanting to give up...but held on because I would be known as a Fashion school dropout. I would bring shame and utter disrespect to my parents and set a very bad example to my siblings. Also the money spent would a complete waste.

Well...I got too sad and depressed...I got suicidal.

After clear thinking and sheer embarrassment, going home for some rest and thinking about how it all got so wrong sounded best to my mother and myself.

So, I got 2 jobs about 3-4 weeks after I came back in Sept. in 2009 but got depressed and my mother fell ill. I resigned from one and got fired from the other.

Now, even though I am still young at 21 yrs of age and am still unemployed since Dec.2009.

I have no experience and am sending out and giving out resumes left and right...but to no avail.



I've realized that even though I feel old, late in the game and like a complete loser.

I mean...where do you go after dropping out from Fashion school in L.A. to being an unemployed dropout in Ottawa, Canada...

It's not as if I dropped of of Med school or a prestigious music program.

I have no future without a Bachelor's in something.

All my friends picked stable careers and are graduating at the end of this year or in 2011.

And here I am...a worthless Fashion school dropout loser...

Funny thing is I still love Fashion.

I want sing and dance and write songs for a living but that will never happen.



So I ask, should I go back to school?

...well more precisely University and major in something like Art History/ Finance to become a museum curator..or study English or French Lit. (I am bilingual) to be a Teacher or Translator

These are the only majors where I might succeed. These are the only subjects that interest me because I'm not good at Math. and the Sciences so there.



I need suggestions, guidance advice..?



From a severely depressed/ridden with low self-esteem and incredibly scared of the future girlShould I go back to school at 21 yrs of age?
Sometimes when one door closes another one opens. Maybe this was not in your plan.. to be honest fashion designer graduates dont even make that much money and wind up sewing patterns for a living in some sweat shop (well like one anyways). Unless your really good at fashion like amazing then you wont be successful. So take this as a blessing and find something where you can make money in. You say science intrests you, have you ever thought of doing nursing? going back to school at age 21 is not a problem at all many people in university are 21 esp after spending 2 years at a commuity college which most people do. Never compare your life to others cause that will make you more depressed. Focus on YOUR life and do what you need to do to make YOU feel happy. It is hard to get a job, im 18 and only worked once in my life and that was in the summer of 09 its now 2010 and ive been sending out applications to no avail.. i guess my resume sucks but i never realized how hard it is to find a job, so i can relate with you on that aspect. Ive been applying to stores but alot of them want you to have experience working at the mall.. i havent as of yet done a follow up call so i will do that, do you do follow up calls after you submit your resume? like a week later? cause they say that it highers your chance of getting a job.



As for now enroll at a college for the Sept 2010 start, you still have time alot of programs are still open. Im canadian as well so i can tell you that they already started sending out acceptance letters as of Feb1st but there still accepting applications so apply. go to "ontariocolleges.ca" but if u got the grades to go to unviersity then go there. I got accepted into a two year program at seneca that will give me entrance into year 3 at york university so maybe look into a program like that..





http://www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime/LAT.ht鈥?/a>
OOps I meant Dana and NOT Spice :)

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Should I go back to school at 21 yrs of age?
Thanks for choosing me best answer =)

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Just wanted to let u know that i got a job! after two weeks of handing out resumes finally i got a job so ya just keep handing out resumes and stuff!

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Should I go back to school at 21 yrs of age?
OMG you are a mirror to me! Good luck!
You have the heart and spirit of an artist, and that means you feel passionate about art, music, dance and everything else. (Read up on the enneagram-- you sound like you might be a 4.) It's not too late to go back to school. You might think about spending one semester with no pressure on yourself to make a career move, and just take classes that interest you. Also, have you considered finding someone who does what you want to do and see if they'll let you apprentice with them? That's a legitimate way to learn too.
Hi There



Don't start looking at other careers because you think you "failed" in fashion!! Listen to your heart. If it's fashion that you want to do, then you have to find a way to do it. You don't have to go to the best fashion college! Go to a college in the place where you feel at home and happy. That's what I would do.



I'm 30 years old, and have studied Psychology, Graphic Design, Tourism and some Admin, I've had a couple of jobs, were fired once, felt like a complete loser, and realised that I have to do the right thing for me.



You can't run away from the "truth" (That you want a career in fashion).

Don't choose a "safer" career and "sell out" just because you are scared. When you do that, you will be making more and more mistakes, and will be moving away from your goal, instead of towards it.



I know it's hard. But I'm 30 years old and I'm only getting money together now to go and study a diploma in Fashion. The school is really close to me and Pretoria, South-Africa is my hometown where I'm most happy. I will have to move to London, Uk to have a career in Fashion, because here in South-Africa, fashion oppotunities are limited. But that I will worry about later.



Good Luck, and lots of love

Yolandi
Don`t be harsh on yourself. Give yourself a break. At least you tried to realize the job you liked. It is not a shame that one fails in something, the shame is not trying, and not learning from our mistakes. And it was a brave decision of you to decide that you don`t have what it takes to be the best in the fashion field. I am the opposite side of the story. I went for medical school because I got high scores, not because I loved it, and completed my study because I was too coward to quit. In fact I love painting, and foreign languages (you see I an not a native English speaker). I am now an assistant lecturer at med school but I am not quiet passionate about it.

I tell you, keep on following your dreams. Try another study that you like (we all have many talents and interests not just one), and never stop believing in yourself. Studying at any age is great. There is no age for learning. I know many people who decided at different ages to start a new career, even in their forties, and they became so successful, and so you will be if you keep on trying.
Yes, you should definitely! :)



My friend's mother is in her 40's and recently began going to a community college, and I've never seen her happier. It's not too late. Don't be hard on yourself, you still have your full future ahead of you.
You've already received two excellent answers so I'm not going to add to much. I just wanted to say that it's never to late and I can totally relate to you. I am 27 and going back to school right now. I never think its to late to try and start again. And you know what? I'm not the oldest one in my classes. There are quite a few who are going back now that their own children are grown.

I know the fear of going back, and the fear and depression of feeling like a loser when you stop. Sometimes things just happen and a large part of this age, especially when you first started, is still trying to discover what you really want to do with your life. It doesn't have to be for your entire life either. Many people change majors. I was convinced I wanted to major in Computer Sciences only to discover a year into it that I'm just A- Not that good at math and B- Just not as passionate about it as I thought I was. I changed to an English major and have since changed again to Liberal Studies with the intent to become a teacher. Many in my classes say they have always wanted to know that's what they wanted to do, but that wasn't the case for me and it was just something I fell into that I ended up loving!

I know I've rambled, but I just wanted to let you know that you weren't alone. And if you do go back and don't end up liking what you picked for your major, change it. 21 is still really young and you have plenty of time to figure out what it is you want to do. Especially since you have your parents support and understanding still as well.