Hey welcome to the DMT-Nexus!
SWIM is optional and not really recommended. Usually only new members use it until they feel comfortable.
I am glad you have found the nexus to be helpful! You should definitely perform an extraction, it's an incredibly rewarding learning experience.
Don't hesitate to ask us questions if anything comes up that you don't understand. If you haven't checked out the wiki, a lot of great info is there, too.
Peace and Hyperspace