I am a first time drone owner using a Mavic.  I am also left handed

for some reason, my natural tendency is to push up with the left stick, and am expecting the copter to fly forward, instead of straight up.

I keep forgetting that the "forward" is the Right Up stick.  Tomorrow, i think i am going to try using mode 1 and see how that feels.

Any of you lefty newbies experience this?

I'm right handed but I grew up playing with RC Cars so it took me awhile to get used to the throttle right controls vs throttle left.

I'm left handed, but I've been flying RC since 2003. Don't ever really remember thinking throttle wasn't on the left hand side. Purchase a simulator (or find a free one) and use that until you get the controls down. Most controllers in the US are Mode 2, so if you decide to switch to Mode 1, you may have trouble flying other things in the future.

Just got my Mini 2 SE today and I too am the same way as you.

Its the right? By pushing up on the right stick is really the Throttle? or is it to  push the aircraft forward or backward?
When when flying RC airplanes  the throttle controlling motor and rudder was on the left  and the Alirons and Elevator on the right
But as I understand it on a drone I thought the controls were forward/back and side to side on the right and Up and down & yaw on the left?

  

I am left handed, and Mode 2 is what I learned first.  I am taking Mode 2 control styles to the grave with me.  : )

Use whatever mode you find easy to use. Personally as a left handed I use the right stick for throttle and rudder and the left stick for airelons(forward and back) and bank( slide left and right) and that works just fine.