Uhhh... coding a game engine probably isn't a good place to start.
Yes, I suppose so, perhaps I misused the term "game engine" here. What I mean is I definitely want to learn game programming, that was kind of my main motivation for learning programming in general. I want to learn the necessary parts to making a game, such as spritesheets, implementing those, rendering, game logic, and the like.
I can't for the life of me figure out why people think Java2D is easier what with all the mucking about with VolatileImage this or BufferedImage that, or god forbid they want to tint an image a particular color or fade it out. Want to move an image around? Oh you're writing all that by hand too. Stuff gdx gives you as one-liners, and oh yeah it's literally 30 times faster to boot.
I've seen some code behind some Java2D based games. I was really not looking forward to typing out so much for so little. XD Nevertheless, I would've gone through with it anyways.
But LWJGL it is! Thanks again, everyone for your input!