Yes. You ruined your life. Yes.
You will be able to get a job when you get out. At some point you might be able to see your kids again - even though it might not be until they are 18.
Don't drop out of school and go to college and try to get a good job.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.