Dija asked Tiera Fletcher (Guinn), Boeing AddedMonday, February 12, 2018 at 11:21 AM Will I be judged and potentially hindered from dream career opportunities for graduating at 26-27? I've asked this question before and I know it may seem like a ..dumb question but it worries me a lot. I dream of the day I get to work at SpaceX and eventually NASA. I've always wanted to be an engineer but only recently honed in aerospace. Starting school at 22, pretty late and then eventually graduating at 27, will I be hindered from working my dreams? I worry because everyone I know had graduated at 23 or 24. It makes me feel very self conscious and as much as I try to instill confidence in me, i'm scared and a little lost. Please help me, I could really use some guidance. Related to Aeronautical/Aerospace , Internships & Jobs, Self Doubt, Space, Unique Challenges Areas of Impact Space Reset Sort By Default Tiera Fletcher (Guinn) , Boeing Answered Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 10:02 AM Hi Dija! Firstly, thank you for reaching out about this issue. From my point of view, starting at a later age puts you at an advantage. I will explain. In college, I found that students who were above the average age for their class were more stable-minded in a sense that they were able to adjust to changing situations, such as college and the intense courses each semester. Usually, this is due to maturity in a sense of understanding how one functions, especially in regards to time management and learning processes. I have seen the same results mirrored in the workplace. Therefore, you should use those aspects to your advantage and focus your energy on standing out in that manner. Do not focus on the age difference because truly, ability rules out age. Concentrate on developing as an engineer and everything will fall into place. I wish you the best of luck! Tiera Fletcher