my mom was in a similar boat.
she had gotten a bad case carpal tunnel from years of cleaning teeth, which she loved. she was demoted to hygeine assistant which demanded less from her hands. she hated it.
my mom worked for the same company for 11 years and cleaned teeth for about 20 something years, then got demoted to the unrespectable job of handing younger hygienists tools. so she decided to go back to school. her bosses took notice and fired her, they suspected she would lose interest in being an assistant which is a boring, demeaning job for such an experienced and talented woman.
anyway, she's now studying to be a physicians assistant becuse she loves helping people. she completed the program while assisting hygeine, making less and less mony and taking up part-time jobs when she got fired. we were basically living off my father's income for about two years.
then she landed a great job as a hygeinist at an old folks home. she worked less but got paid almost as much as she had before, cleaning old folks teeth. it demanded less work and allowed her to take time to study.
unfortunately, its been a year and a half extra of her not getting into the PA program which is ludicrous. my mother is an extremely driven, compassionate, talented, able woman who exceeds at everything she applies. its just her age ans mediocre grades she got in college 30 some years ago that deterrs employers. like i said, ludicrous.
she is now working part time and taking classes for the third time in order to erase the bad grades she got 30 years ago. we are living off my fathers income for the most part, which isnt so bad seeing as i am in college and by brother is soon to be as well.
anyway, i advise you to persue your dreams. we met many hard times but always lived thru it. my mom is proud of herself and we see a future for her now.