I'm going to put an example of how frustrated I am at the moment, and why.The only thing I can add to the good comments and advice you've gotten thus far is - recognize the fact that you'll learn a LOT more from your failures than from your successes. If you design something and it fails, don't abandon it, dig in and learn WHY it failed and how to fix it. I think *every* design engineer will agree that the most valuable lessons have been learned as a result of failure, not success.
I began 2 test projects today, both have to do with the Colpitts oscillator; which I need to make a metal detector. Built one for the metal detector, and also to test if I can emit radio signals. Built them, don't work, don't do anything, and I don't even have an oscilloscope because it's too expensive for a amateur like me... how can I advance from there; when I can't even tell what's going wrong?