Curious potential newbie

I’m 21(F,black) currently in Houston,tx and am potentially looking into really trying to join the SR community. I’ve tried and am fully over people my age and feel like I’m ready to look in other areas for my needs to be met because I’ve learned what I want and I know who I want including the qualities and what I’m willing to put up with, arrangement or not. I’ve always known about this community but I’ve just recently gotten to the age that I feel is more acceptable in my own eyes and more ready to actually full out attempt to find a SD and see how I feel about it before I make a decision.

So first, when did some of you join and what is some advice that you’d give a girl in my situation. What are some red flags to look out for, and what are some places I can look/ways I can show that I am looking. Last what are some downsides to it if any that you wish you would have known when you started.( I might have more questions later)

Genuinely would like to know because I feel like unless I’ve tried my best to do something I’m genuinely interested in and have been for a long time my curiosity will never go away until I do and I feel like now at my age is the perfect time to do it as I’m in school and young and I feel like what I want in someone currently aligns with what I think are similar to those in this community if that makes sense