It's intimidating, I get it. But it's not too hard. The big lesson, to me, is to realize there's no one right answer. Nobody's going to make fun of you for your choices.
At your age, an annual contribution to an IRA, whether Roth or traditional, will make a huge difference later on. The younger you start, the longer compound interest has to work in your favor, and now is the best time to establish good savings habits. In general, the tax structure is extremely favorable for those with modest incomes who manage to save even a little. (Despite the current congress's best efforts.)
If you do decide to explore a bit, one simple, easy to read book to cover the basics is The Elements of Investing. http://www.amazon.com/The-Elements-Investing-Burton-Malkiel/dp/0470528494
Good luck, and prosper.
Kevin Slater