Lots of good advice on this thread. I have been in amateur radio for quite a few years. It’s a great hobby that will literally last a lifetime. Most areas of the country have ham radio clubs that welcome newcomers, hold classes and give tests. Ham radio has many areas of special interest from long distance (DXing), and local repeaters (VHF and UHF) to moon bounce and satellite communications. There’s something for everyone with an interest in standard radio or digital communication modes. Good Luck.
When I was in high school, I was at the ARRL shack(W4GG) near the airport and we set up a phone patch from Antarctica to Kansas. We were able to keep the signal long enough for them to exchange info but it wasn’t for long.