Hopes for a prospective "non-traditional" student at making it into a prestigious school?

24, work full time currently.

High school transcript is horrendous, about the 49th percentile of my graduating class. 8.5/13 pt weighted GPA scale. For perspective, I just looked at an unofficial copy for the first time this year. I had my head up a certain orifice back then, and somehow got my diploma. One of those people that in early grade school, was told I was gifted, aced everything, and was in a Gifted/Talented program.

Decided to try a vocational/trade college that Fall. Flunked out due to lack of good work ethic.

Planning on starting small at a community college and getting as close to a 4.0 as possible before trying to transfer, after a few years of working partially out of necessity as my family went through economic hardships.