[dcgibbons]

Your feelings are extremely common. In fact, most men especially will likely experience these thoughts in their 30s and 40s to varying degrees. I know I have.

I can tell you that ultimately what you have to do is forgive yourself, not only for past mistakes but for letting yourself waste time on regret. Then, the next and most important step is to take responsibility: no one else but you is responsible for how you are feeling, and what you will do in the future. Taking responsibility is one of the most liberating things people can do for themselves, and yet is one of the hardest for most of us.

Do not worry about it being too late; it is not. I have known plenty of people that have come back or joined engineering, or something else, very late in their life (you're still a young pup compared to them!) and have been successful. You have to set goals for yourself, execute against them, and continue to remind yourself that you are responsible for what happens.

Don't look around at people who became billionaires in their mid-20s and decide you haven't done enough or aren't talented enough. There are so many factors that go into huge successes like that. Hustle and hard-work are indeed a huge part of it, but so is timing, luck, and their placement in the universe.

I would also ask you to think hard on if a good school, etc. is what you need versus hard work. Think hard on what your goals are and the steps you need to get there. Don't spend time on something that isn't really going to help you.