Hey Ryan, welcome!
Here is the best thing you could do right now, read, read, read, read and read more.
Here is a good list of books and resources from the Michigan Hawking Club website:
http://michiganhawkingclub.com/phpBB...opic.php?t=479
Get in touch with some falconers close to you and ask if you could tag along when they fly their bird this fall/winter.
I got interested in falconry at about your age and it took me until I was 21 before I got my first bird. It was a long wait but worth it.
Best Regards,