VFR SMA STUDENT PLT INBOUND TO LFI; INSTRUCTED TO RPT BASE FOR RWY 8; WAS CONFUSED AND ENTERED BASE FOR RWY 26; CONFLICTING WITH DEP TFC.

Narrative

I CALLED IN TO TWR OVER THE SHIPYARD AND RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO LAND ON RWY 8 AND RPT L BASE. I GOT CONFUSED AND INSTEAD OF GOING TO RWY 8; I PROCEEDED TO RWY 26. BECAUSE OF ALL THE RADIO TFC; I HAD TO EXTEND WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BASE FOR RWY 26. ONCE I DID TURN AND RPT; I REALIZED THAT I WAS ON THE WRONG RWY AND RPTED TO THE TWR THAT I WOULD TURN R AND TO THE S WITH THE INTENTION TO CLR THE RWY. TWR TOLD ME TO TURN L WHICH PUT ME FARTHER INTO THE TFC PATTERN. RADIO TFC AT THIS TIME WAS CONFUSING WITH THE TWR CONTINUALLY ASKING ME WHERE I WAS AND I WAS RESPONDING INCORRECTLY; BUT TRYING TO CLR THE RWY TFC PATTERN. IT WAS AT THIS TIME I SAW THE DEPARTING ACFT AND DSNDED TO ABOUT 500 FT TO AVOID A COLLISION. I CLRED THE ACFT ABOUT 700-1000 FT. I CONTINUED TO THE S AND DID R 360 DEG TURNS AS REQUESTED BY THE TWR UNTIL I WAS TOLD TO LAND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: STRESS ON PLT. HIGH VOLUME OF RADIO TFC (SOME NEEDLESS). LONG LEAD TIME TO TURN WITHOUT FOLLOW-UP BY TWR OR PLT. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: REDUCE STRESS OR DON'T FLY. BETTER/CLOSER CONTACT WITH TWR.