There is already a lot to think about in this post. I'll add my 2 cents, but please take them with a grain of salt.
Firstly, you're at a state school. This gives me the impression that you're
not going into a large amount of debt... and also makes me think that you might be able to transfer to a different state school with a stronger tech program... but I don't know about the State Schools in ID, so again...grain of salt. If you can get into one of the larger schools, then there will be more opportunities to do, and learn tech, outside of classes. Your ability to transfer will be based on your grades... so, if you've put in some effort (despite not loving your classes), then you may have already opened the door to moving ahead faster.
There is not a lot of Production work happening right now, so this may actually be a great time to be in school...
I've had a pretty varied career, that started with studying lighting design in college. I worked for the on-campus production company (Event Productions, or EP, at Syracuse University...), and started hanging out and helping with lights at a local rock-n-roll club (hole in the wall). Of these 3, the two on-campus (school, and working in the student staffed production company) were the most valuable (to me, anyway).
Working in the club did give me a good sense of having to "make do" with whatever was on-hand. Eventually, they paid me a little, and then started paying me to come in and work the "
Sunday Hardcore" shows (the worst), but I got to experiment with lighting regularly to see what worked, what didn't, and why. In fact, working the
Sunday shows was where I really got to try and fail in lighting design in a safe environment. No one at those shows knew anything about lighting, except that "if it blinks in time with the
beat it's probably better." I definitely got to try color combinations that would never have been approved by any director... Plus, I got to run spotlight for some cool medium sized bands who were just breaking out (bands like the Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox 20, Ugly Kid Joe,
etc.)
My classes taught me a lot of skills that I would not have otherwise developed, as easily. Things like critical thinking, problem solving, how to do actual research, and the interconnectedness of seemingly unrelated fields of study (that was HUGE for me later in life).
Additionally, the relationships that I developed with the older students in my department
led me to my first work after college. A friend got a job in Las Vegas, and convinced me to come out and try my
hand... he gave me some introductions (but not a job offer), and that was enough to get my
foot in the door.
Finally, I learned to use several of the basic tools of the trade, even though my particular school had more of a design focus than a technical one. I learned basic programming, I learned how to focus an
instrument, that a
gobo my still burn a scar into your thumb, even if it isn't glowing, I had to do some basic carpentry (even though I had no interest), and that definitely helped me for the rest of my life...
The work that I did at the Production Company gave me some more of the "hard skills" that i've used in my career. I was able to make decent money while "doing production", some of which was higher-tech. I learned basic sound mixing (not a key skill for me, but one that helped me a little later in my career), I worked long, long hours building temporary stages, for relatively large shows. I got to work as local crew for larger bands that were touring campuses, and had to sit through some long (but interesting) conferences because I was either manning the light board, sound board, or both. I learned more about newer technologies in lighting, and (because I worked there for a few years), I worked my way up in the ranks, and was eventually a crew chief. All of this served me very well when I eventually followed my friend out to Vegas after College. In addition, some of the folks I worked with at EP went on to work in the industry and were pretty successful... which gave me even more ability to
network.
So, my advice (FWIW), If the school you're in is not a good fit, try another State School. Don't go into deep debt, but don't be afraid to accumulate a little debt if it means that you're able to take good advantage of the offerings in school. Once on-campus activities resume, find your campus' equivalent of EP, or the on-campus AV company. They will need people who can move boxes, hang lights and speakers on
portable stands, and coil cable (to start)... Hang out and make friends, and then start working on the bigger shows. If you find that School really isn't for you, try to get a job at a local AV or Event company, try your
hand at the local
IATSE chapter, or even look into an apprenticeship at the local
IBEW, and find a local
venue with live entertainment, and ask the bartender how you can get on the crew that sets-up and runs the lights... they'll know the people doing the production work, lighting folks have a propensity for visiting the bartender...
That's how this works. each little thing leads to the next thing... leads to the next thing... leads to the next thing. Pretty soon all of those little things have added up to something, and you'll have some momentum carrying you in a direction, and (hopefully) into a career.
Some seriously important points...
1. You have no idea (right now) what your career will look like in ten years. There are no shortcuts, because ultimately there is no final destination (well, there is one, but we don't want to get there any time soon).
2. Do the work that you enjoy, and be curious. If you're curious, you'll learn. If you learn, you'll get better. If you're better, you're more employable, make more money, and have more opportunities.
3. There are a lot of old, jaded stagehands out there. listen to what they have to say, but be skeptical. it's not "cool" to be burned out, or to talk down to your crewmates (even the humm-heads).
4. Don't be afraid to Volunteer in a place where you can learn, but know when you're being taken advantage of, and it's time to get paid, or move on.
5. Some of your most valuable education (in college) will come in things that you don't recognize as important, right now... Art, Math, History, Sociology, Figure Drawing, even (especially) Art History, and... if you can find one, take a class on personal finance (how to make a budget, how investing works, how to stay out of debt,
etc.). So, go to class. Take your classes as seriously as you do your working on shows.
That's my advice. I make no guarantees as to it's value, but it's served me ok...