Just one example: All my life I have been curious about human pre-history and ancient history. Never learned much about it along the way.
Now that I have time, I find an incredible wealth of knowledge and insight about early human history has been developed. I feel like a dim area of my understanding is being illuminated, like exploring a dark attic with a bright flashlight, it is very satisfying, and particularly when pieces fall into place and I have an "aha! so that is what that was all about" moment, it is exciting as well.
>problem is that by 35 you can't get by on novelty anymore because you've seen some version of everything there is to see
I'm 68 and this is self-limiting B.S.
In the last few years I have seen many things I never saw before, and never imagined.
Ironically, when I was about 30, I was in a similar position and complained to my dad that there was nothing new under the sun, everything is just a rehash of what has come before.
Have you talked to your school about what you are doing? They may be able to 1) give you credit for what you are doing and /or 2) assign other students to help you for class credit.
Also count your blessings, there are a lot of people your age who would love to have your problem.
When people take financial risks (such as holding more than $250K in FDIC insured bank account), why should taxpayers cover their losses?