This is one of the best links I know to learning Javascript. I would recommend learning Python if you want to be on the programming side as it will teach you the base concepts behind programming that will apply to every language. That said, with Node.js and more javascript frameworks than you can imagine, it's fairly useful these days.

http://javascriptissexy.com/how-to-learn-javascript-properly/

My biggest piece of advice is just go do it. Just fucking do it. Don't get wrapped up in researching the differences between languages. Skip sections of the tutorial if they bore you. Figure out what you want something to do and then figure out how to build it and make it happen. It's much, much easier to learn something when you have a specific end goal to complete. I learned much more building a couple javascript function that allowed me to make a bar animate left and right as users clicked each button than I did in my semester long Javascript class.

What the class did allow me to learn was why things are they way they are. But, if you are like me and quickly fall into boredom or feel like learning is a grind, it may better to learn how to do things and afterwards learn why it works that way. You will also retain the whys better when you have those "ah ha! that makes so much sense now!" moments rather than the moments of "I sorta understand why this will potentially be useful in the future".