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As Salty1 said, you can work out the mechanics of the bolt action at home with no ammo and do it in a very short time. FWIW, Ruger makes left-handed Ruger American Rifles for the same price as the right-handed versions. I have a RAR in .308 and it is a very nice shooter, especially for such an inexpensive rifle. The bolt, while not butter smooth, is easy to work.

As for the 22, I would consider getting a 10/22 instead. It will cost less money and, being semi-auto, allow you to focus totally on the mechanics of shooting without the distraction of working the bolt.

As a side benefit, the 10/22 is the most customizable 22 rifle in the world. As you grow and get into the shooting sports, you can customize yours pretty much any way you want.