You can access it with the Go menu in Finder (cmd-shift-h).
By default, its subfolders show in the SideBar, Desktop, Documents, Downloads.
You can drag favorite folders into the SideBar, or you can add some of the standard items using Finder Preferences > Sidebar.
If you open /Users by going to Computer (Go > Computer), double-Click Macintosh HD, double-click Users, you can then hold down cmd+option and drag the home (your username) to the Desktop. When you do that, it will create an Alias (shortcut). You'll see that it is creating an alias as the icon you are dragging will show a curly arrow in the corner. If it doesn't show that, you are not making an alias, so don't drop it there.
You can also drag the folder into your Dock.
If you create folders of files directly inside the home folder, they will be readable by other users on that Mac, so you should use the subfolders.