Good point about the successes! If you struggle through something that's hard for you, that's a success and I think we all need to remember sometimes that what is or isn't a success for us may not be recognized by someone else. In fact, those kind of personal successes usually aren't. But I think I know what you mean, Patrick. I know you've struggled a lot with jobs and maybe that's the "starting all over" that you're talking about. Yeah, it's hard as hell to keep doing what you know to do and not having it recognized. But when you get in there and keep at it, that, my friend, is a success.

About college: well, first of all, I want to applaud you for finding the courage to do it. And, my advice? If it were me in your position, I would definitely start with the easiest path, which would seem to me to be going with a course where you will already know much of the material. For one thing, it would be a great morale boost. Also, as you said, it would help to fill in any "holes" you might have. Also, I think that starting with a more basic class would give you a feeling of having your feet planted, and you would have a base of feeling successful to build on.