IM new: i don't know what to do!

First I would like to say welcome! The star beside your name is how many comments or discussion that you have started or commented on you. The more that you post to a discussion the more that you will earn. Just like if you start a discussion is always best to start with at least 4 lines. The one line discussions doesn't pay that much and the one line comments to others doesn't pay much either. I hope that I have helped you out a little. Myself I'm still kinda of new and trying to learn myself.