What is the main conflict in Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour?

At sixteen, L'Amour was forced to quit school because of family economics. Although his father was a veterinarian and had served in various law enforcement capacities, times were tough leading up to the Great Depression and money was tight. But L'Amour had another reason to leave school - he felt that his "education" at school was standing in the way of a true education. He was happy to leave. L'Amour seemed to have no trepidation about taking off into the world at such a young age.