Looking forward to your future posts as you get your feet wet here.

He sould sleep in one room and wet the bed.

If your friend is set on college but still loves REI, maybe recommend a tech school where they can get their feet wet.

Although worse neighborhoods often work great on paper, they don't always realistically work out as well but can certainly be a great starting investment to gain experience and get your feet wet!

Real estate" is not one business or one type of investment, it is a number of related businesses or investmentsResidential, multi family, office building, warehouse, mixed use, retail, recreational, raw land, tech centersLarge, medium, small, microUrban, suburban, small town, rural, exurbsbDifferent states, different metropolitan areas, different cities, different neighborhoods, different blocks, different demographicsDifferent property age, different architectural style, different fixed expenses, different financing, different tenant mix, different tenant demandSingle net lease, double net lease, triple net lease, CAM, building allowances, rent holidays, lease length, buyout provisions, personal guarantees, lease renewal, cost of living increases, flat percentage increases, Different loan amortizations, fixed interest rate, variable interest rate, balloon payments, fully amortized, institutional loan, private loan, seller carry backBuy and hold, fix and flip, syndicate, partner, joint venture, self manage, professional manager, management company, leasing company, in-house leasing, real estate agent, licensing requirementsFederal laws, Federal regulations, state laws, municipal laws, rent control, eminent domain, set back requirements, utility easements, property taxes, special tax assessments, development districts, water districts, utility bondsPassive investing, active investing, portfolio income, business income, retirement funds, ERISA regulationsAsbestos, Clean Air Act, Environmental Super Fund, pollution control, water runoff, Flood plain, floodway, Flood control, Flood insurance, endangered species, wet lands Zoning, Planning Board, building permits, occupancy permit, community board hearings, noise ordinancesEviction laws, foreclosure laws, bankruptcy laws, civil liability, fair housing, tenant rights, disclosure laws, loan modification laws. 

After reading about the different ways to invest, I would like to begin with wholesaling to get familiar with investing and get my feet wet.

I'll get a $10 quart of gloss or semi gloss paint and a $1 brush from dollartree and that is usually all the supplies I'll need besides a wet rag to clean up drips.

I wanted to find a safe property with good returns as I get my feet wet.

I'm sure you can find some good interview questions as well for a new PM. if you're looking for something passive, on par (sort of) with stocks, then I would consider investing into a syndicate with a good sponsor where you can get your feet wet, learn, reap most advantages of RE, but in a done-for-you setup. 

I wouldn't even say I've gotten my feet wet, yet.