RC-Lew,
I just soloed in October. A very important thing I think you need in an instructor is find one who believes in using a buddy box. I can't count the number of times this saved my plane, especially when we started flying closer to the ground to learn landings.
I feel so strongly about this that when I take my second plane up for the first time I intend to do it on the buddy box. If it starts doing something wiggy I want someone who is experienced there to save my plane. Plus, I'm going from a trike to a tail dragger.
Good Luck and Enjoy,
KW_Counter