Life happens; we can’t all follow the traditional timeline for education. You may have to take an educational detour when a family member becomes ill or if you need to work. High School, then, takes a backseat. By the time life has settled down as much as it’s ever going to and you’re able to consider finishing your education, it seems like it’s too late. How can you go back to a classroom full of kids who seem so much younger than you? You know you need to do something because you want a promotion at work, or a new job, or just to show your family and friends that yes, you can do it! But what do you do?

There are so many options for adults to go back to school, whether it’s high school, vocational or technical school, or university. But it’s often not the lack of options or motivation that hold you back; it’s the thought of being the oldest person in a classroom or the least experienced or knowledgeable. It’s the thought of missing work or family time that causes most adult students to decide against enrolling. Since we’re approaching the traditional “Back to School” season, here are a few things you might worry about when it comes to returning to school and why you shouldn’t!

Time
When we’re kids, school is something we need to attend. There’s no conflict with schedules because you know you have no choice but to go. However, a huge reason many adults hesitate to go back to school is time. There’s barely enough time in the day to go to work, take care of yourself and your family, run errands, do chores… Where would you find the time to attend class? Or study? Finding an accredited online program can allow you to attend school on your time, and fit studying, exams, everything around your busy life. A self-paced program can also let you learn at your own speed: you can take your time with things that you’re having trouble with.

Age
Too many people think they’re too old to go back and finish their high school diploma. After a certain age, it’s almost too embarrassing to admit you never finished. Besides, why would you want to sit in a classroom with students ten or twenty years younger than you? But, whether you take classes at a traditional school or go the online route, it truly is never too late to go back. There will always be people who feel they need to point out how old you are; that’s just the way it is. But more people will think it inspiring that you aren’t letting anything stop you!

Support
The biggest worry adults have about returning to school is having support from their friends and family. Without people in your life to encourage you and give you a shoulder to cry on when things get tough, it can seem terrifying to dive into a big project like finishing your diploma. The best thing, though, about going to school at any age, is that almost every person who works in the education field is passionate about learning. So, if you don’t have the support of your family, you’ll have the support of your teachers and peers.

There’s never a bad time to go back to school, whether you’re twenty or ninety years old. If you’re interested in learning more about going back to school, check out ICS’ online high school diploma program to see if distance education is the right fit for you!