What is it like to be a lawyer (my choice is a defense attorney) and how can I take advantage of the time I have to become one?

Hello, my name is Luis, and I’m a middle schooler at Crane middle school and my goal is to become a defense lawyer. I wanted to do this because I realized that I wanted to help people with my knowledge and I thought it was better to defend someone than to accuse someone. I personally don’t know any lawyers in my family, friends, or area but what I’ve been able to find out that you need a doctorate with 7 years of schooling which include University in majoring in something like philosophy or what I think is important Justice and criminology, and finally passing a bar exam. However I want to know what steps I can take know because it will be easier to major in that University if I actually have my own credentials. I also do want to know what life as a lawyer is because it’s great to have knowledge of the law but it’s also important to have soft skills like great communication, sympathy, attention to detail, or having a natural lying detector as skills of a lawyer. I am willing to commit to being a lawyer because it something im truly passionate about.