6 Things College Students Wish They Did In High School

1. More community service. 

In high school, reading to dogs and working at soup kitchens might have seemed like well-calculated resume boosters when you were watching everyone else stack up their hours. But when you sacrificed an afternoon that you probably would've otherwise spent browsing the internet, chances are, it felt good to know you improved someone's day. The fact is, we're all programmed to seek companionship and community, even if we don't think we want it. Plus, when you're spending thousands of dollars studying history and society and global issues in college, you'll feel much better knowing you spent at least some of your time actually acting on those eager intellectual principles. 

2. Become friends with teachers you like. 

Believe it or not, teachers are real people who have lives outside of grading your papers and giving you lunch detention. If you've ever run into a teacher at a supermarket like I have, you know what a shocking difference it makes to realize your teacher is just like you. You don't have to become best friends and grow old together, but we've all had at least one teacher who changed our world view, influencing our future major or career, or simply encouraging us to continue down a path when we ourselves were unsure. These are the people who have made a tangible impact, and you'll regret not appreciating them more, especially when you end up in a lecture with hundreds of students and the professor identifies you by your student ID number.

3. Taking more AP courses. 

Remember sitting in that uncomfortably hard chair while your counselor rattled off a variety of obscure graduation requirements, pursing his or her lips while counting the number of AP courses on your schedule? We've all had those moments when we've stepped down because of the fear of failure, and when it comes to academics, that's a loss that's hard to recover once you're in college. By that point, the majority of your learning will be independent study, and you are abruptly thrown into the adult world. Challenge yourself while you can - take an honors or AP course even if you don't think you're good at the subject. If you're someone who underestimates yourself, you'll probably find that you're better than you thought you were. Most of all, if you put in the effort, it shows colleges and teachers that you're willing to go the extra mile, so even if you don't get the best grade in the class, you'll be setting yourself up for better results in the long run! 

4. Taking fewer AP courses and more classes on various interesting subjects. 

Now I know I just gave the world's longest pep-talk about challenging yourself, but there's a difference between tackling difficulties and blindly checking off every course with an "AP" before it. If you're the last person to recycle a bottle of water and you're taking AP Environmental Science for the extra GPA boost, it's probably better to consider a course you're actually passionate about, like art history or computer science. That extra half a point won't be the deciding factor that gets you into a prestigious university or condemns you to eternal unemployment. In fact, learning about your passions will probably do more in the long run by making you a more interesting person to talk to. Believe it or not, people can tell when you're being genuine. 

5. Focusing less on romance. 

As someone who has a "Life Plan" file saved under documents, I can't really be the hypocrite and advise people not to think about crazy, unlikely futures. For this one, I'll have to take the advice of Guy Kawasaki, chief evangelist at Canva, who wrote a post about how 32 is when he got married and felt that it was the right time. It seems like typical adult advice - don't be irrational, focus on school. Yet I think what most people miss is that the desire to be liked and admired is something that's part of the current culture, and when we see other people engaging in it, we feel like we're missing out on something magical and mysterious. Take it from people with experience (experience being mistakes) that if you expect glamour, you're going to be disappointed. Kawasaki said he never knew someone who got married too late, but knew plenty of people who got married too early. Love will always be waiting, even if not in the form you initially expected, so don't be in such a rush! 

6. Less time envying others in general. 

This one was my personal worst. We all know there's terrible wealth disparity in the United States, but it's not just about absolute wealth, it's about comparing yourself to other people and realizing exactly where you lack. High school is that time when other people always have more friends, more money and more talents, and you're only going to notice this more as you age. The problem in high school is that you feel powerless to change your fate; you were given the parents you have and you're a minor by every legal definition. Unfortunately, there's no sugarcoating with this one - the only way to stop yourself from feeling helpless and inadequate...is by stopping yourself from feeling helpless and inadequate. You can't change the past and try to give yourself the opportunities you think you should have had. The good news is that the rewards are great when you overcome your own demons. Take small steps: pick up a new hobby, give yourself a makeover, and set short-term goals that are realistic. More time planning for you and less time worrying about others.