Hi sketchup users,

My name is Jody and I've been using sketchup for just over a year now. I'm only 13 right now, but my hopes are that someday I'll be able to become an architect (not the architects that design normal homes that people live in, the ones that design museums and huge buildings and stuff). I already have a couple of models of buildings that I've made in sketchup. I'm not an advanced user, but I'm familiar with all of sketchup's functions (components, sandbox tools, etc.) and I'm starting to get to know the usefulness of plugins.
Do you guys have any tips/pointers that could help me get a head start on my career, or if not, anything that would be helpful to know for someone like me?
I've also been looking around for a good rendering program that's free (obviously my allowance doesn't cover the 500 dollars you need for a program used by professionals...) so I can start doing some illustrations of my models and possibly submit them into contests.

Thanks a lot,

Jody