I have recently been asking over at Gotoandlearn() Forums for advice on where to go next, recognition wise. I thought I would post a link here as I gained a lot out of it. This can apply to anyone who is trying to get into the industry, but is targeted at younger people. Here it is:
http://www.gotoandlearnforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17488
I hope this helps some of the aspiring young developers/designers out there! Leave a comment if you have any other tips etc
Enjoy
Harry.