New young freelancer needing HELP!

I am a 20 year old college student at Metro in Colorado. I currently work at Best Buy, and my manager just told me that I must start working on the weekdays if I want to keep my job. There are many reasons why I don't want to give up my weekdays, but the two most important reasons are 1) I have been tired of working for a company and have been researching freelance for a long time now, and 2) I can't make any room for work because I am a full time student taking four (almost five) classes. If anything i'm considering applying at a couple jobs that will fit around my class schedule like hobby lobby or micheal's (some art store). I have a deep passion for art and I want to be a freelance digital artist so that i can get paid to better my skills, and make enough money to go to cali and study animation. I work with photoshop, corel, flash and illustrator. I know a good amount about freelancing, have read many books and have been learning everything I can about it. I want to know the best way a digital art college student can get started in this field. As far as finding clients, what things most clients look for in a digital artist, and what I should be doing everyday to help myself. I know there have to be clients out there willing to give a begginer freelance college student a chance. I work on adding things to my portfolio everyday, and enhance my skills. The only time I dont do anything art related is when im at work (although even then, im sketching and practicing on a clipboard). Any advice helps!