Highschool Class

I would say pursue what you like the best, if it's Maya, then work toward that. Animation and Editing are 2 different courses of study but it can't hurt to know both since they are related.

Yes, Maya is very pricey, maybe stick with the PLE until you very very sure that's what you want. Cinema4d is a better deal if you want to keep the price down. Keep in mind that Maya (and most other 3D packages, Maya being the hardest) takes years to get good at, but you are young and have a great start from what I can see.

Here's a few links for Maya training and tutorials if you are interested.

http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/

http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/

http://www.digitaltutors.com/digital_tutors/index.php



Nice render BTW.

 

This is a great program and i think it may have a free demo.

http://www.mudbox3d.com/

Its like a 3D sculpting tool.

 

Cinema4d would be a better place to start but don't stop playing with and looking at the PLE. The 2 programs from my pov

Cinema4d

Less than half the price of Maya

One of the easier 3D programs to get into and work. No 3D program is easy but Cinema4d is easier to work with than most.

A excellent set of features.


Maya

Expensive

Well organized but complex with a massive learning curve.

An excellent set of features. On the surface many 3D programs will list similar features to Maya, there's lots of buzz words that all the programs like to claim. Where Maya is different that offers very very deep control and flexibly. It has a very deep User Interface but it goes well beyond that. Another way to work in the program is through nodes or small modular building blocks. Because of this modular construction the interconnectivity is unlimited, just about anything can be connected to anything else. At an even deeper level it's an open source program that can be rewritten and modified at will, within the program. As you work in it there is window (if you open it) that spills out everything thing you do as code. You can grab, edit or write code and start building small functions, complete tools or even full-on sub programs with Maya. This is why most all the high end effects you see in movies are done in Maya, if the program doesn't have the effect they are looking for they can create their own within the program. The movie makers often get help from the people at Maya to create advancements to the program. The trade off is that Maya will get these advancements later down the line. I could go on...