Thats good to hear, it would be sad to see such talent go to waste, especially after you spent years gaining the knowledge you currently posess. I can understand how you want to move forward in life, then i suggest you take your skills and maybe some schooling and make it your career, that is if you actually enjoy what you've been doing for the last couple of years that i know of. :)
and as for where i been, well I have been doing exactly what i just told you I think you should do, and that is going to school for Graphics Design, CGI, Web Desing and Programming. I have gotten alot better and I'm still going to improve, maybe i'll start a project here at PC to practice and improve and showoff what i have learned.