Mitchell, Welcome to a great trade where you WILL be rewarded for your knowlege and skill and can be quite lucrative. The Welding and fabricating trade is experiencing a shortage of well trained hands to carry on the trade as us older guys and gals are retiring. This means that for the up and comers who apply themselves and "pay their dues" as they climb the ladder of success that it will be possible for some to make as much if not more than some white collar workers!
All in all, every person needs to figure out what they like and then go after it! Glad to hear of a youngster that is enthusiastic about getting involved in the welding trade.
MY BEST ADVICE... go to a good school and learn from all the old timers that you can get an opportunity to work with throughout your years. Their knowlege is GOLD!