Article
How do I start again after years away?
Walking back into a classroom or an office after years away can make a competent woman feel seventeen again.
The short answer
Re-entry anxiety is common and usually says more about unfamiliarity than about ability. Confidence returns through repetition, and the discomfort of the first weeks is not a forecast of how it will go.
What to expect early
The first month is the hardest. Systems have changed, vocabulary has changed, and you are learning logistics while trying to look competent.
Almost everyone in that position feels behind. Most of them are also not saying so.
What helps
- Ask basic questions in the first two weeks, when it is expected.
- Find one person who will tell you how things actually work.
- Separate not knowing yet from not being capable.
- Set an honest schedule at home before the term or job begins.
- Expect to be tired. Learning costs energy.
When counseling helps
If anxiety is affecting sleep, or the old belief that you are not enough is running the whole experience, working on that alongside the transition tends to make the transition go better.
Common questions
Am I too old to go back?
Women re-enter school and work at every age.
What if I fail?
Struggling early is normal, and it is worth separating a hard start from a verdict.
Can sessions fit a school schedule?
Sessions are available in Waterloo or online across Iowa, by appointment.
Learn more about counseling for women and female students with Lori, or browse all articles for women and female students.
Written by Lori Rasmussen, LISW, a Licensed Independent Social Worker licensed in the State of Iowa and a Certified Spiritual Director. Lori counsels women and female students in Waterloo, Iowa and online across Iowa. Articles here are meant to help you understand what you may be experiencing; they are not a diagnosis and they do not take the place of care from a professional who knows your story.
Reaching out can be the first step.
You don't need to know exactly what to say, or have anything figured out, before you contact Lori.
Or email rasmussencounselingandsd@gmail.com