Aces, dont take any of the naysayers too much to heart. The whole thing is market driven but it can and does happen.
When I started out at age 36, I was told that I was too old to ever fly a jet. 7 years down the line I'm in the RHS of a 747-400.
There are plenty of people for whom the airlines a second career. A bit of life experience makes a more rounded individual. You will also have something else to talk about in the bar, which can make you more interesting to the rest of the crew.
Best of luck.