Best way to prepare for lifting after high school? (m17)

[energeon]

So I want to get bigger and start lifting for aesthetics after my graduation from high school. I simply don't have the time at the moment with final exams so I haven't started lifting yet. What are the best ways I can prepare for lifting and hypertrophy in the few months I have before lifting?

Ever since middle school, I've always been running cross-country and still maybe run long distances (mainly 10ks) once every week or so just for exercise. However, it seems that I've accumulated some skinny fat and read that endurance cardio can promote skinny fat buildup. Should I continue to run or should I run shorter distances to burn fat instead? I've also read that caloric deficiency can also promote skinny fat. Should I try to eat more or eat less? It seems counterintuitive to eat more because won't that buildup even more fat?