It all depends on how far you want to go. In secondary school I found I had a natural 'gift' for computers. I was as lazy as most teenagers, so instead of pushing myself into advanced programming like a few of my friends, I just drifted into the support field. Later I drifted to jobs supporting large printers and peripherals, servers, etc... I was valued because, even without training, I could be dropped into any environment and 'get things working'. Now I run IT (sole person) for an SMB. A bit overworked, but content.
But as has been mentioned, the landscape is shifting. I've watched tons of 'the good jobs' get outsourced to companies that have techs as resources. These techs are paid $28k a year to go in and do the job that paid ~$50k a year to the person that previously held it for the company. IT people nearer the top are finding that their positions are trending towards data and resource planning and management, as has been mentioned. There won't be any lessening for the need of IT 'techs' anytime soon, but they're being considered more of a commodity all the time.
Hindsight is 20/20, so if I had it to do over again I'd pick a specialty field. Probably something in the Engineering or Medical professions, and work like Hell at it. As you're doing that, practice and finesse your computer skills (programming is a definite plus, but if you don't have the aptitude for it, it's not the end of the World). Out in the Real World, you'll find yourself VERY valuable to your employer. Not only will you have the skills to work with and/or develop computer tools that relate directly to your 'primary' profession, but you'll give them a lever to use against depending completely on 'The Evil Forces of the Company IT Department'. You'll be someone that can translate 'computerese' into their language.
Degrees/Diplomas are cumulative. Use that to your advantage while you can. I went the easy route and, though I'm comfortable, could easily be making well into the six-figure range (nowhere near that now) if I'd planned more and pushed myself. Requires discipline, though.
