Should go for arch. Vanilla arch or cachy os would be great for you. I know on KDE there's a wallpaper engine extension that might be good for this use case, not sure if there are any other alternatives
I think this is up to you. You could go on the path like the other person said, courses like udemy and stuff, grind out certifications, get a job. You could get a degree which makes you be a complete person, and you still will need to get real world experience either through clubs or the same udemy courses. The bachelors (in computer related field) will also give you more opportunities and tick HR boxes.
Myself, I'm finishing my b.s comp sci and doing the certs and don't regret anything. I spent 2 years in community college, saved money, took IT classes unrelated to the b.s degree but got me free certifications and relationships with lifelong friends. I took part in college programs and made more friends I still hang out with since we transferred together. I transferred to my current uni and participate in my tech clubs which offer more hands on skills.
Many years ago, it was easy to get a job in IT with no certs and a psychology major and I feel now, it's a little harder than that, maybe at least an A.S in computers or something.
Your mileage will certainly vary but this is my anecdotal take on things.
Anecdotally, I know of a couple people who spedran getting a degree and now they can't find a job because a good chunk of listings are only for people still in school like sophomores and juniors.
If you spend an extra year or two at uni and get a job, you might be better off in the longterm. Then you can graduate to a better position since you have a year or two experience under your belt in the industry already.
Emojis are essential 💩