What is best is get your self some kit thats fine for what your trying to do.

play with it, for a while.

then get a experience'd welder, to show you what each settings do, and show you the best setting for the type of welding your trying, and the technique that they prefere, and other technique that you might prefer, then practise.
But if your teacher show's you what is do able with you welder setup, and what to look at on a poor and a good weld, you then have something to aim for.

Then just keep trying, but conserntrate (sp) all the time.



if you need any advice, you have my number.