Read more on investments, knowledge is you best friend. But in essence an IRA is a retirement plan that has tax advantages.
Go to a financial advisor like your local Edward Jones (not a pitch, but just who I use because he is a good friend) and they will be able to guide you in your investments. They will most likely set up a Roth IRA and get you into some moderate risk mutual funds.
The sooner you get into the stock market the better since you have many years until you will need the money. don't get scared if the stock market drops here and there, you don't care about that because you are in it for the long haul.
But read more, that way you have a better understanding of what you are doing with your money(there is risk).
