1- get your ratings ASAP and start building hours in a 135 position.
2- start working on an inexpensive online degree in your free time... ideally something diverse as a fall back in case you lose your medical or don't want to fly (I highly recommend finance because it is useful and versatile)
3- get your ATP at age 23
4- by then you may have enough hours to bypass the regionals all together, or at least your stay at the regionals won't be very long.
Ratings first, degree second