Some tips for a networking student?

Hi I am currentry enrolled in a cisco networking online school which I get to do 50$ a semester because I go to an IT secondary school of some sorts. What should I do after I finish secondary school, and the +1 technical year? Should I go to university or should I go to work to get experience? Also, apart from learning the cisco modules how can I practice networking? We use packet tracer at school, should I practice with that? English isn't my native lang so excuse me :D