>>I think doing web design on your own is best. I personally think it's not worth
>>going to college for because practice and experience is what will set you apart if
>>you're going to start your own web design company. Why waste time looking for a
>>job when you can be your own boss?
I would say it would do no harm to do a few free websites for charities or friends etc. Make sure you do a really good job and then you can show prospective employers how good you are - or you can build up a portfolio to start up your own business.
Design your website first. Choose a theme. Prepare the content well in advance. Design a website on your own. Apply the best SEO and promotional strategies to promote it on the popular search engines. I completely agree with jj1, you could even help your friends and family in developing their websites. This would also spread the word for you and build your portfolio that would further add to your credibility when you decide to start up your own business or freelance.