Beginner Questions.

[T321]

I think what led me to thinking about a college degree is age and I was of the mindset of: "It's just a high school diploma...I can get it at anytime and I can't get it right now anyway."

So I wanted to learn other things in the meantime...while ignoring my most glaring sore spots. I really...didn't want to go back to learning u.s history... I could do so much more and thought if I could take clep or dsst tests to earn credit to store it for later

You are 19; that's a typical time to begin university-level coursework. Many people in this forum began much later. One point of caution: If the mindset toward success is structured around "I can get [that] anytime," eventually, you may wake up years later still without [that]. The race is only against yourself in the end, but don't forget to run. 

More importantly, I think I misunderstood your situation. If you really can't begin this high school diploma program for up to six months from now (Why not?), then I don't seem the harm in studying certain subjects that may overlap between the diploma and degree coursework so that you don't completely waste time. For example, if you dislike U.S. History but will need to study it for both the diploma and in college, you could study an introductory-level course through CLEP/one of the many sites listed in this forum. It would shore up your high school background, while also strongly preparing you for the eventual college exam you'd need to take anyway. Likewise, if trig feels relatively basic for you, and you didn't explore pre-calculus or Calculus AB, you could look into courses covering them--as long as you'd need another math to graduate high school.

This is the only kind of situation where I would recommend avoiding directly finishing up the diploma, since that goal should be both more immediate and more urgent than "stealth procrastinating" by working toward a goal that you can't yet officially begin. Otherwise, I'd really say to deal only with studies leading to the diploma. When the time comes for it, you will easily and quickly be able to knock out about a dozen completely free credits through various providers like Sophia, TEEX, and Theinstitutes.org, giving you a big head start toward your degree anyway.

You see, I'm not completely financially independent and still live with my parents (But most of the time alone or in different places with very little proper interactions/conversations.) and any extra cost is shouldered by me. Financial assistance by them stopped at around the ages you can get a job (16-17.) and I used to have emotional/psychological issues to where at one point I took multiple medications, but have been stable for 3- 3 1/2. I'm grateful I don't have to pay for rent and food while they never give me any pressure, but this is a conversation from multiple times when I was younger: "Can I learn this?" Response: "You can, but only if you can afford it." Ha, ha. I find this so funny now. Education is viewed as an extra expense so that guitar, piano lessons, art supplies, calligraphy set, sennheiser headphones, notebooks, pens, or anything else I may need to learn what I want is paid by me. I've taken loans with them before with no interest which has all recently been paid back in full accumulation. I set the time of enrolling to get my high school diploma in a max of 6 months...time I'll need to convince them for another loan which I can pay back any accumulated debt as long as it's not over $10,000 dollars in 3-4 years as a max. I'm not bad with my money and have currently $5000 saved up for whatever use and can go towards that debt I may accumulate later. I just want to focus on my studies so any expenses I may need at this time will be covered with the loan. A very relaxed situation.