Introduction and Help unlocking Samsung Galaxy S model Bootloader

Hello everyone, I am ne to the site and forums for Android software development. I have always wanted to explore Linux OS systems and devices for quite a while but never seemed interesting and now I see that it is very valuable to know and understand. I consider myself a tech but mostly for PC, I hold an AS on Computer Electronics and current going for my BS for IT in Cyber Security and Linux pops up. I want to root my phone but it turns out that the bootloader is locked and I was wondering if I can get some help from you fellow experts. The phone is a Note 4 from ATT with android 5.1.1 installed. Is there any hope for me or can there be a solution. Thanks in advance....