I agree 100%. The OP clearly has a lot of potential. But the GPA isn’t there.
OP if all you say is true, you have a compelling story. Your story might be very interesting to some highly selective colleges. I don’t think there is much benefit to going to a regional college, which might not best suit your needs. Save your money. Go to CC and prove yourself, then aim very high. If you can pull great grades at a CC, you might have a shot at tippy top colleges.