I have a manual, second manual car I have owned. It takes about 10-12 times behind the wheel of a stick car to drive it OK. I would say about a month to really learn the car.
Best decision I made. It's fun to drive and with all the torque of the LS3 it's very easy to drive as well.
I just don't believe you're 19, nobody under the age off 55 calls it a standard trans.