fire vault?

Is this a good feature? As a college student who will be on a wireless network can i use it safely? I really don't want to lose all of my files or have time machine stop backing it up.

I think you meant FileVault

I don't think it would stop Time Machine from backing your files up, as it just encrypts your files with your Account Password.

If you turn FileVault on, please, by all means, do NOT forget your account password!!

I would want it on, IMO