[plug] [OT] After Year 12

[Tim White]

Hi.
Some of you may know me personally and others just from inrequent posts. 
My name is Tim in case you hadn't read my header and I am currently in 
year 12.
As some of you may know I have a passion in computers, mainly 
programming. This as taken me to Canberra to attend the AIC selection 
school twice.
I have been using linux since the start of the year that the last Debian 
2.2.X was released around Sept (If you can remember which year it was 
please tell me, I am think 2001 as 3.0 was released 2002)
Since then I have picked up a greater desire to program and am often 
found spending a whole weekend developing an application[1] instead of 
doing study or homework. I don't enjoy study or homework unless it is on 
a computer. I am alright at Calculus[2] and Applicable maths. I am also 
doing physics, geography and English all of which I can do if I study 
harder.
I have topped WA in the UNSW Computer Competition 3 out of 4 years so I 
am confident that I have skills in the computer area apart from the fact 
that I enjoy it heaps.
Apart from the fact that I hate school and am not looking forward to the 
upcoming TEE exams I am still going to do them. What I am writing this 
for is guidance. I really enjoy programming especially when it can help 
someone else other than just me. I am not sure of what to do after year 12.
I know that there is Computer Science and Software Enginerring that I 
can do at Uni but I'm not sure if I want to.
I also know that I can't live off prgramming for the Open Source 
community unless my work is so good that donations come pouring in or I 
get commercial customers [3]
I am open to any suggestions. Also if you know away that I can combine 
my love for lighting (thearter) with computers/programming then please 
tell me.
Thanks
Tim
[1] As most of you can't know I am developing a web based chat client 
similar to IRC which will soon be found at http://ihcc.sourceforge.net 
(In the next week or so) or for an old version 
http://plug.linux.org.au/~linuxalien/public/talk/. Any guesses on what I 
was doing last week end considering it is now on SF
[2] If I study/do home work
[3] Side note, what license should I release an application under if I 
wish for it to be free for general public but not for commercial use?