For any younger person, I would advise you get into a 4 year college, working towards some sort of general degree. You can spend the same 4 years pondering what you want to be when you grow up in college the same way you can while working at a fast food restaurant. The only difference will be that you have a four year degree to fall back on in the first instance.

Life only gets harder as you grow older in that you pick up commitments and responsibilities (like rent, car payments, babies, etc) that could keep you from furthering your education.

For every formal education naysayer I know- I can generally find at least 3 people with a much easier lifestyle because of a college degree. College opens up doors that often remain closed to those without a degree. At 17, 19, 21 or even 30, I would never allow myself or my child to be that limiting in life choices.

I had a Political Science degree, worked in insurance for years, and then decided I really did want to explore my high school desires of law school. Thankfully, that meant only 3 more years of school, rather than 7, at 29.

Get your schooling done early. While we all know someone that made it rich without a degree- that is the exception rather than the rule.