Ryan,

Most clubs will have a designated runway. The flight line is where the pilots line up to fly. Both Canada's MAAC and your AMA forbid flying behind the flight line for safety reasons at chartered club fields. If you fly at an uncontrolled field, and if safety permits, you can fly "around yourself". It is hugely easier to do this than observe flight line rules. That's why it's generally not a good idea to learn this way as you don't develop the instinctive skills right away.

Keep in mind that as the plane comes toward you, it appears that the controls are reversed. Practice taxiing and you'll see what I mean. Matter of fact, I neglected to mention this very important aspect of learning to fly on your own. That is, to taxi around, back and fourth, applying throttle up and down just shy of taking off to practice keeping the plane straight. As you get very comfortable doing this, it takes the fear out of going fast hell-bent for leather, no point of return. At one point, to take off, it's just a matter of not cutting the throttle and just letting the plane do it's thing, (take off). Thereafter, you just keep it straight till it gains sufficient altitude to make a turn. Make your first turn left,,, it's much easier.

Keep in mind that going left is just so that you don't re-kit prematurely. As you gain confidence, practice right hand turns and also right hand approaches to the runway. Good luck.