Don't beat yourself up. We live in a age where time is always against us.
As for the IRc. Try following the guides posted on the forum, make sure to follow it through step for step (I'll post one here in a sec to help out)
CLICK HERE for the IRC guide.
As for failing us, do your best, in the end thats all we can ask.
We'll get you through this.
Should you need more assistance just ask
us.