by Eric Goudie

Created on: April 15, 2009

High School is a brief time, but it's filled with some of the highest highs and lowest lows you'll ever experience. Here are ten things you can do to make the most of those four short years, and come out ready, willing and able to conquer the world:

1. Graduate. More than anything else, High School should be a time to focus on learning. This will be your last opportunity to learn in such a structured, self-contained environment, so you should make the most of it, and get as much education across as broad a range of subjects as possible.

2. Get a job. You're going to have to work most of your life anyways, so now is the time to get used to the idea, rather than after four years of partying your way through college. Having a job means having a regular income, so you'll be able to learn the fundamentals of budgeting and saving. You probably won't have any large monthly bills just yet, so you can put more money into the things you love, as well as save for a major purchase or for the future, and you probably won't be making enough to have to worry about paying income tax. But whatever you do, don't borrow money, or let yourself get talked into getting a credit card - either could leave you with monthly payments that are too large for you to afford. Better to learn now what it takes to live within your means then when you've got two cars, a mortgage, huge tuition debts, and all of the sudden your kid needs braces.

3. Get your driver's licence. Most teens are eager to learn to drive and want to get their licence right away, but even if you aren`t this is still the best time to get it. Being able to drive is an important skill - it opens up your employment options, it allows you greater mobility, and it frees your parents from the burden of getting you from A to B (after 16 years of driving you around they`re probably starting to get sick of it). You don`t need to have a car to have a licence, so even if you don`t plan on using it right away it's still a good thing to get out of the way at this point in your life.

4. Volunteer. Some school districts now require students to complete a certain number of hours of community service in order to graduate, but even if they don`t you should still find the time to volunteer for something you believe in. It doesn`t have to be much - even just one afternoon every couple of months ushering for the symphony or walking dogs for the animal shelter will help to instill the volunteering spirit within you. In addition to looking great

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