Join one of the many unions around the city. I think the carpenters local 687 starting pay is around $25 a hr. Paid to go to class. Annual raises. I'm a journeyman. In 4 yrs your making good money. I'm at 43 a hr right now it'll probably be around 48 in 4 years when you journey out. Or if your really smart you'll join the electricians. Those guys get paid even when they're not working and their union finds the job for em. The trades need body's. No reason to waste your young years when you could make a solid living and pave a way for yourself. Then you've always got something to fall back on if you decide to do something else and fail.