This. Unless you have express permission to try and break into a network, it is against the law to do so. I think you have your priorities a bit mixed up here, if you have no idea how to break into a network, you have no business trying to do so. That isn't to say getting into cybersecurity isn't a good decision, but you have to learn how security works, how networks work, how the local and federal laws surrounding cyberspace work, how various hardware and software toolsets work, etc before you even consider trying to get permission to do a penetration test. Even if you have permission, if you don't know what you are doing and take down something important, there will still be harsh penalties.
You don't learn martial arts so that you can beat people up in the street or because there is someone you want to take down (not in the real world, anyways). You learn martial arts for the exercise or for self-defense. Hacking can be thought of in the same fashion. You shouldn't target a lab at your school just because you think it would be fun or a good chance to show off. Hacking isn't like a video game, where your character is instantly proficient with all the tools he finds around. Even if you bought the latest Hak5 tools, a penetration test requires knowledge that months, even years of continuous study and practice to master.
If you are interested in going down the path of digital security, that is a wonderful thing. But it is important to learn how to land safely before trying to pilot an airplane.