My advice to the younger generation is to give it all you’ve got. And you have plenty to give, even just starting out.
You have your time to give, and whenever you have heard an old timer say they would scrub toilets to get ahead, or that they would not ask a worker to do something they hadn’t done themselves, you too have your time and effort you can give toward your higher goals.
Give your attention and get as educated as you want or need to be. After some trifling paperwork, your attention is the most valuable part of a community college or trade school enrollment, and you own all of that required attention right now….