Demoralised with age

[hidayah1190]

Hi there.
I was just wondering whether starting late in piano playing would really affect you if you want a professional career as a pianist, or concert pianist?

The thing is I am 19 going 20 and only seriously started to play the piano at the age of 17. It is not that I am an ambitious person...I have only managed to concentrate fully on my passion now- after taking a science course and realized that it was not appropriate for me.
Until now, I still haven't pursue any grading examinations despite being able to play a couple of solo songs with the piano. Well, I understand that it is definitely the best to hire a teacher but somehow, I feel that I am too old to go for serious grading system and by the time i get to a professional level, I might have already turned 30!
Furthermore,  I still need to save up for an upright piano since I am interested in classical music.
It really might take ages!(I didn't come from a rich family background)

Overall, it is definitely very hard work.
Willl get piano lessons (tho most of them are KIDS).. and try my best to save up for an acoustic.
But looking at my age...I am still wondering whether...
Is it really WORTH it?
Or am i just wasting my time...

It will be great if you can voice up some opinions on this matter.

[pianowolfi]

Principally I think your age is no reason to be demoralized. Some things may take more time to learn than when you start at a younger age but it depends much more on your individual potential. The hardest part might be that you always feel tempted to compare yourself with others who have started earlier than you.

[iroveashe]

I started around the same age as you and I'm 21 now. I never heard of a concert pianist who started that late (maybe there are really good ones but not famous enough) but that's no reason not to take it seriously, and by that I don't necessarily mean taking exams and giving concerts if that's not what you're after, but just learning and practicing everyday. As long as you don't overdo it, I don't think you'll regret it, it is worth it.

[m19834]

There are actually many levels and areas (sometimes pretty shadowy) to "professional" playing, and setting that as the end goal doesn't necessarily establish an actual standard for your development.  Whether or not it's worth it depends entirely on your standard, what you are willing to sacrifice in order to attain it, and what you are sacrificing if you don't attain it.  Generally, the higher the standard the more you will need to sacrifice.  Sometimes the sacrifice is material, sometimes it's spiritual, sometimes it's both.  No matter what, if the standard is very high, it will involve a lot of just plain old work.  

If you do have a high standard then I think there are two very important ingredients at your stage :

1.  A huge hunger (something that goes WAY beyond other people intentionally starving you).
2.  The *exact* right teacher.

[go12_3]

If playing the piano is your passion, then you will learn it through your heart and mind.
It doesn't matter the age factor really.  When the mind is more mature when it's thinking is able
to grasp concepts better and plus, the fact you are willing to put forth the effort
to learn and progress through steadfast practicing and learning the pieces that will matter for you in enable to acquire the proper skills and techniques.  I wish you the best in your future and just do what you love and the rest will have a way of working out, as long as you know this is what you truly desire to attain in your life.   

[hidayah1190]

Well thank you for all those opinions! 
Really appreciated it. Well I guess, I have to take the risk and just do whatever I am passionate about. Probably I should try and stop thinking too much.
(Old habits are hard to get rid off!)