[fpotter]

Yes, go to college but don't go for the piece of paper, and don't go to a community college if you can help it.

I was in almost exactly the same situation as you at 19 (28 now). I screwed up HS to the point where no good university would accept me, and spent 18-20 doing web dev and not really growing. I realized I had to get out of there.

My advice: go to whatever 4-year, brick and mortar university will accept you and WORK HARD to prove your HS transcript is not an accurate assessment of your abilities. Live on campus. Then transfer to the best school you can that's going to give you the most opportunities for growth. I ended up at a big research university where you could get involved in research as an undergrad, and loved it.

Another thing: hang out with the right people. I think people, to a certain extent, are just a product of their peer group. If you're surrounded by smart, motivated people, it's going to rub off on you.

If you have a choice, I'd recommend not starting at a community college. It's harder. You're not going to be surrounded by people with the same mindset and goals.