So its my dream to one day be able to synthesize the various chemicals which I can only read about that this point, the extreme exotics. The ones I'll never encounter otherwise.. Its been that way for too long, just a dream, always perfectly out of reach. I aim to change this, I want to learn enough and gain the competence to synthesize my own dream chemicals.

Where to start? I've read around a few threads on this site but the most of it is over my head. Where should an aspiring drug chemist begin his sponging up of chemistry knowledge? I'm going to take a chemistry class in the fall once I'm finished with my summer job, until then the internet and the library are my two resources of information.. Never did too great in high school, guess I have another shot at college then. Tips? Advice? Encouragement? Stories of individuals going from nada chemistry knowledge to synthesizing their own everything with ease?

Grab a text book on Chemistry , first maybe a HS level one, then work your way to a topic inside general chemistry you enjoy. Don't spend money on a digital one, as there are hundreds free that are simply old versions - some impartial - but they are near complete and not too much has changed with basic chemistry in the past few decades anyhow.

Step 1 UTFSE  haha (Im not tryin to be mean)
step 2 use above method to join more general chem forums to ask basic questions rather than jump right into the deep end.
step 3 get utorrent if you dont all ready have it
step 4 variation on step 1.shhh its super secret http://torrentz.eu/search?f=chemistry
step 5 Dont waste that college course,soak it up.IMHO this alone will put you ahead of 25% of the posters on alot of chem forums.Formal training, molar math =invaluable. be a chemist not a cook.

specific recommendations not listed above
#1 practical organic chemistry,vogel,3rd edition not 5th
#2 organic chemistry as a second language,klein

well put lugh and so true

the collectivee does have a good newbie section worth a look (for 3-4months!)

You really have it lucky you know.Even without the schooling.Using BTclients I pulled enough high quality science related books and videos to last me years(and I did it in a week).And only the stuff I wanted,not everything I could.Videos,on lab technique, several,incredible.Just a few years back we had like 10% of whats available now.Incredible.

By the by is the collective hard to get into?I havent been approved yet

Kudos dream0n, the youtube suggestion was incredibly fruitful.. I now know what the fuck a reflux is haha

http://youtu.be/fHEk2WFgmXQ

I totally agree with wasabi said at first, the idea to obtain some fascinating chemicals can be motivation at its best, and after having success with obscure substances besides the usual stuff it will become more fascinating than you can imagine now. And then some day you will find yourself thinking three days straight about the same synthesis and you dont even mind it. And the fun is just getting started when you are able to adapt a total synthesis on which precursors are obtainable!
I wonder why people have to ask where they should start to learn? I have found myself deep in the learning progress someday, and i am still getting deeper into the whole thematic.
Just read what you can get, about that stuff that interests you most, and combine it with some easy practice like extractions this will also help to improve your basic understandig, and gives you on the other hand some easy achieved success, that helps to keep you motivated a lot!