3.) Finally, what can I be doing now to prepare myself for the difficult life of SF? Literally every day I PT, read books related to the field, study for school, and teach myself arabic off of the internet.
Study, get good grades and keep your nose clean. Simple. All this voices in my head nonsense is just that.
A respectful first post....nice. You'll go far with your current attitude. My advice is be patient, develop a strong character, stay focused, and listen and/or read. "Long way to go" is a good admission, but don't get daunted. Be patient.