Chalk it up to "educational costs" like books and tuition. Your "absolute" goal now is capital preservation. Don't let yourself get sucked below the 2 grand minimum for margin. Using the margin on lower priced stocks you can buy more shares and again, don't need as big percentage gains to realize a decent return if you have the larger positions.
I don't have any recommendations on "good picks", I watch, I wait, I listen, load the revolver with one round, take a deep breath, put it to my head and squeeze the trigger.
With any luck, the stock goes up and I hit on an empty chamber in the revolver, LOL.
But I am VERY short term trader.
Chartinator and his professors are very, very good with the picks they are coming up with here.