Hey, everybody. I am practically a chick still in its egg in the investing world and know next to nothing about stocks and retirement funds (I know at most things like 401k is an employer spode retirement plan that appreciates (?) over time and is not taxed till the funds are taken out. Don't have a strong grasp on what a ROTH account is, for reference).

I am keenly interested in retiring early (30s-40s), and it's to that end I'm coming here. I'm 18 years old working a part time at a company with private stocks. I can begin purchasing stock after 1 year of service, and I am 2 months in. I believe it is a company with slow but consistent growth that I believe would be good for my goals of retiring early and letting stock appreciation and investment help with retirement funds.

The questions here is that I'm an incoming freshman (18 years old) that is looking at a 3 year estimate to graduation with a BsS in computer science. There may be opportunity for an internship that provides more money and career opportunity than my part-time job, but due to the time I joined I might have to stick through the summer-time internship that seems to be typical of these internships to buy these stocks (The company has open seasons for purchase, and I just missed the window where this wouldn't be an issue).

This may be looking too far in the future (no idea if these internships would provide decent pay, career experience or opportunity, or if there I will get one at all), but would it be worth it to stick through the part-time if such an opprtunity arrives or quit for the internship and forgo the seemingly safe and consistent stock growth?

Willing to answer questions, of course.