When I was your age I did a data entry and analysis project for my Uncle Bob who was the PR director for a nearby beach. I did all the work with my TRS-80 Color Computer 3 and got enough money to buy a 286-based PC. I found out later how much value my data analysis project created and realized I should have asked for enough money to get a 386-based PC! I also did some software development for teachers in my school: I wrote something in BASIC for the PC and then found out the teacher had a CP/M machine so I used a Z-80 emulator to translate the software to work on CP/M.

So basically I'm saying you should look at people and places closer to you.