I’m 19 years old and currently working a part-time job. Lately, I’ve been feeling like I really messed up my timeline. When I was 16, I chose to focus entirely on finishing high school instead of getting a part-time job. Now that I’m 19, I feel like I’ve wasted three years of "earning power" and work experience that a lot of people already have. I feel like I’m starting from zero.
On top of that, I’m paralyzed when it comes to University. There is a course I’m interested in, and I "like" it for now, but I keep overthinking the future. I’m scared that once the work gets actually hard, I’ll realize I don’t have the natural ability or the brains to finish it. My biggest fear is starting, spending the money, getting in huge debt and then having to drop out because I’m not capable enough, leaving me with debt and even more "wasted time."
I didn’t go to Uni yet because I didn't want to "risk" failing, but staying where I am feels like I'm stuck.
Is it normal to feel like you've wasted your life at 19?
How do you know if you have the "ability" for a degree before you start?
Is the risk of failing a degree worse than the risk of just staying in a part-time job forever?