Best thing to do before college?
I’m a high school senior heading into college next fall. Between sports and extracurriculars I stay busy, but in my free time on the weekdays I feel I spent too much time doomscrolling. I want to flip that wasted time into something productive, and something that I can become a more interesting person by doing. I already spend 4-5 days lifting and cooking.
What I’m really after are projects, challenges, or experiences I can build up to by this summer that:
Develop character & grit
Are genuinely cool / impressive (something people respect when they hear it)
Carry a sense of credibility
Some of the ideas I’ve been tossing around:
Training for a marathon or triathlon
Climbing a recognizable mountain (Washington, Fuji, Kilimanjaro)
Basically, I want to avoid just sliding into college as another student with the same story. I want to show up with an experience or accomplishment that makes me more interesting, memorable, and genuinely developed.
Curious — for those further along: what kinds of projects, feats, or experiences did you pursue at 18–20 that gave you both prestige and great stories later on?
Also -- doesn't have to be a physical challenge
And for those who say to enjoy senior year--that is obviously my priority
Mountain climbing would definitely be cool. I was going to recommend travel if you can afford it, and that would certainly count.
Otherwise, I would recommend against approaching your last summer before college with a #grindset #optimization mindset. The next 30-40 summers of your life will consist of that, along with the next 30-40 springs, summers, and falls.
I would instead recommend hanging out with your friends, preferably near a beach, and getting laid a lot. Being able to say you climbed a mountain could help with that.
Develop a good fitness habit and routine. Once you're in college there will be plenty of distractions, but if you have already built in a habit of going to the gym at least 3-4 times a week then you'll be in good shape. Also, learn how to cook some basic meals. I'm assuming you'll be living in the dorms and eating at a dining hall for a while, but if you ever move off-campus, knowing how to cook and eat right will keep you healthy.
When I went to college as a freshman I never really worked out while in high school, so I was very skinny, and when I moved off-campus I didn't know how to cook, so I was either blowing money on Uber Eats all the time or I was eating spaghetti with canned sauce all the time. Wish I developed better habits while I had the free time.
Get off the internet, go outside, dump your high school girlfriend, develop a real hobby (something think is cool, not something everyone else thinks is cool) hit the gym, dont get hooked on low grade addictions (sports betting, tiktok, porn, gambling), stay in touch with your real friends from high school, thank you parents if they are helping you pay for college, dont fall prey to prestige, read a book
Definitely something physical fitness focused. College is around the time many people get out of shape and stay out of shape. I started lifting senior year of high school and was able to build a good habit that has continued over a decade.
100% I would get active in the gym. If you start going now, at least 2-3x a week, you'll thank yourself so much a year from now in uni. I went to the gym only a handful of times throughout my senior year, and even 3+ years later, I wish I had taken it more serious.
Traveling is what I always recommend for young people. Seeing other countries and experiencing other cultures firsthand opens your mind. It's obviously a bit cost prohibitive depending on where you go, but traveling on a budget also creates some great memories.
The second thing is to make physical discipline a daily part of your life. Train for an ironman and weight train. Be careful with weight training because if you're doomscrolling you're probably being exposed to some stupid sh*t like peptides, SARMs, etc. You do not need that sh*t. Stay natural, stay healthy, challenge yourself daily, and don't take life too seriously.
Temporibus reiciendis totam asperiores possimus id. Nesciunt ipsa debitis facere asperiores cumque. Amet qui aut et porro sit mollitia enim. Corporis consequuntur sunt quia esse voluptas eum accusantium.
Sunt veritatis quo omnis. Est unde voluptas consequatur. Ducimus eveniet quas reiciendis tenetur quod ut. Modi omnis esse qui molestiae. Non ducimus eius et consequuntur rerum sapiente ducimus. Aut eligendi ipsa ut fugit. Voluptatem consectetur culpa dolores autem inventore.
Provident autem omnis eos possimus veniam neque. Reiciendis quo laudantium iste reiciendis nam corrupti. Voluptatem tempora magnam commodi. Sit id debitis soluta veniam corrupti. Quibusdam est voluptatum nulla dolor aliquam. Pariatur sit eaque tempora repudiandae. Et numquam maxime officia culpa sequi.
Tenetur ex sed esse nulla neque nemo laborum. Fugit ut provident omnis recusandae placeat fuga voluptatem dolor. Et eos commodi molestiae cum vero id saepe id. Perspiciatis temporibus accusantium excepturi eum nostrum dolor. Ab quia sapiente ducimus distinctio aut. Eum explicabo ut dolorum impedit corrupti voluptas dolor consequatur.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...