my goal in aviation eventually is to fly long haul.
I can understand why you might have this goal: it certainly sounds exotic and enticing to one who has never done it.
Do you understand that your layover in that "exotic long haul location" is going to be about 24 hours long, in an airport hotel?
Given your age, there is a reasonable chance that ALL of your long-haul career will be as an FO, working on your body-clock night time.