I did a thing and I'm feeling so proud of myself and wanted to share
Im almost 41. Since graduating high school, I have always struggled with figuring out my path in life career wise. I spent nearly 17 years working in a feild I was never particularly happy with or found fulfilling.
I had my son in 2021, and with the support of my husband, decided to leave the work force for a bit to raise our child. When it came time for my son to start school fulltime, I began to make moves to get back into the work force. I really didn't want to go back to my old field, so I tried applying for adjacent jobs. I was very quickly humbled by just how much of a shitshow today's job market is. I was hardly getting any callbacks, and the interviews I got were for jobs barely paying a living wage. I contemplated going back to school, but not having the time nor the money for it and not really sure of what degree I would even pursue, I decided not to.
That's when my husband encouraged me to join the (Canadian) military. He's been serving since the age of 16. He was a high school drop out and a troubled kid and it completely turned his life around and has provded him with a stable and lucrative career all these years. I couldn't say no to something that would provide me with good pay, benefits, job stability and a pension.
So I found myself at boot camp as a 40 year old woman wondering what the hell I had gotten myself into. And here I am, 9 weeks later about to graduate.
I did it all, the 5am wake ups, the beastings, repelling down a 120ft tower, learning how to handle, detail strip and assemble a C7 rifle, getting tear gassed, sleep deprived, living in the field for 2 weeks eating cold rations, drill practice, you name it. I did it all along side people half my age and managed to keep up and absolutely kill it.
I didn't think I had it in me, but this has really shown me what I'm made of and I just feel so proud of myself and wanted to shout it from the rooftop. I've gained a self confidence and a self assuredness that I didn't have before, and I feel like I've finally found where I belong career wise.
One of the other amazing things about this experience were the few other 40+ women I met who did this along side me. We showed them that us older gals have still got it. And I feel like I've made friends for life in these women.
Thanks to anyone who took the time to read. It really is never too late to find a new path in life ❤️