Help me get on track (Long)

A little background information:

I'm a 17 year old freshman in college.
Started playing poker about 5 months ago.
I consider myself (I know, so cliche) better than the average poker player. (Not the average two-plus-two'er however!). I play a lot of games with my friends, $5 buy-in tourneys mostly. I often get to the final 2-3, or win, but get drawn out on a lot. Not complaining, just stating that its usually a loose/weak game. My friends all just learned how to play with other friends. Only about 2-3 of my friends do I consider "good".

I also play on PokerStars daily. I play a lot of free tourneys, either freerolls or play money sit and go's. I've gotten really close to the money in the MTT's a few times, but never closed the deal. In the sit and go's, I win more than half that I play in. There usually 9 or 18 people SNG's.

I've played for money on PokerStars a few times, but not much. I deposited $50 one night, got it up to $86 playing 1/2 NL. I went to bed and lost it all the next day. I then deposited another $100 and lost it. I stopped playing for money for like 3 weeks and last week gave it another shot. I put in $50 and played .50/1 NL for a while doing pretty good. I then tried a few tourneys 'til I was out. That's where I am now, just playing for fun on PS and $5 with my friends.

I'm obsessed with poker. I watch it on TV anytime I possibly can. I want to learn everything I can about the game. I had a big gift certificate to a local bookstore that I recieved for graduation. I used it to get Theory of Poker, Poker Essasys, HOH 1 and 2, Small Stakes Hold 'em, and Hold 'em Poker for Advanced Players. I've read a little bit of all of them. I've read HOH 1 the most because I play mostly tourneys so I thought it would be good to read first.

I'm getting a better understanding of poker everyday, but I still truly know that I'm not even 1% there. I know there is more and more and more for me to learn. I'm setting short-term goals for myself all the time.

My situation now is this: I can't play with anymore money on PS out of my credit card because it's my spending money while I'm here at college and I need it. But my birthday is Sep 17 and I know I will get at least $150. I plan on using that money to start a bankroll on PS. I know that wouldn't even be sufficient for 1/2, and barely enough for .50/1. But I know it's possible to slowly build up a bankroll to grow with.

I would love to hear any and all suggestions. Which of those books should I concentrate on first? Should I start of playing small buy-in tourneys and SNG's to build my bankroll?

There is a casino 5 minutes away from the campus I am living on, it is on an indian reservation so 18 year olds are allowed. As far as I know, there lowest limi is $3/6. Would I need over $1000 dollars to be able to play that level comfortably?

How should I go about becoming an over all better player? Playing ring games or tourneys? What should I aim for?

I think my young age is an advantage right now, because I have a lot of time to learn the game before I'm even out of college. I would love to be able to make a good amount of extra spending money this time next year.

I apologize if that was unorganized, I also realize I may come of young and stupid. I am not big-headed, I know that I have a LOT to learn, and I am looking to learn it. Any replies would be GREATLY appreciated.