Ask HN: If you were seventeen and had passion and time what would you do?

I started getting involved in startups when I was around 16, there's a lot I'd do differently and a lot I would do the same if I could go back. Here are some thoughts:

1) Build a network: I'd say that the valuable thing I have done is build a network. Attend industry conferences and events in your area, and become engrained in the startup community. Your age is an advantage, it gets you noticed, and means almost anyone will take a meeting with you. Put yourself in lots of situations that scare you, you'll look back and wonder what the big deal was. The best opportunities come when you're you're at the right place at the right time.

2) Learn to program: I'm 'non-technical', having just finished a degree in business marketing. Only recently have I really started making an effort to learn to program (mostly ruby), but I wish I had done it much earlier. Its important even if you never want to be a developer that you have a strong understanding of how things work and what's possible. Its also frustrating not to have the skills to have an idea and create a prototype, without spending your life savings or bringing on a partner.

3) Seize Opportunities: Early on I wasn't too particular about what opportunities I helped out with, if it got me excited, I was in. This mentality let me try a lot of different things and helped me learn better time management. You'll learn what you like and what you don't like. Don't be afraid to get in over your head.

Best of luck!

Yeah, I want to get out in the city and meet and sieze and do all of that. Just finding the opportunity to take that first step is hardest.

I'm sure there are startup/web events going on in your area. Literally just pick a few and sign-up. There will be a lot of hit and miss but the most important thing is to stop thinking about it and just do.

I don't live in a 'startup area' quite honestly.

I'll be strictly practical. As somebody who taught himself CSS first and HTML second, at a later age, with a master plan, I advise you to learn javascript to the hilt, and have a complete tooling shop. You could also use to learn about other structured document types besides HTML. Keep an eye on the avante garde. Set some goals. Javascript enabled, choose your next adventure: the way of canvas, webGL, svg, and the great growing mass of libraries for browser graphics and interactivities; or the way of software architecture, and crack Node.js and familiarize your self with all its modules; learn networks and databasing. You can maybe do both, eventually. Either one will allow you significantly to experiment and invent, and/or become involved in IRL collaborations. You have nothing but lots of time to become a craftsman, to build a people network, interact with the growing base of young adults gearing up to inherit a galore of industry overdue for innovations. Maintain a simple life. An occupational cycle of learning and practice is as good as it gets. Read everything. Become an apprentice and glean some hard-won knowledge ahead of time itself. Consider it good fortune if anybody besides you takes yourself seriously until about 1755046732, in dollars or milliseconds.

Talk to people. Make lots of friends. Network.

The technical skills will come with time and it already looks like you've got that under control and moving in the right direction. If you want to be known as the All Knowing Developer of X then you can spend more time learning about X and probably do just fine. The only thing that separates people who are good at what they do from people who are great is just the time they spent doing it (Assuming the level of passion is also equal).

But I think the skills that are underestimated in the tech world are people skills - spend time cultivating them and they will last you a lifetime.

If I had more time on my hands right now that's actually what I would be doing, making more friends.

Completely agree. The old adage is "it's now what you know, it's who you know".

This is especially true in the computer industry. If you want to create a startup you need to know people with money to fund you, and business/technical people you can get to help you out with your ideas. On the other side, you can get a great start on a job as a programmer if you know someone who's willing to give you the time and exposure you need to learn and grow.

I started out with a good knowledge of HTML/CSS, learned the basic ropes of javascript to meet my needs, and then dove into Ruby and Ruby on Rails. I'm really happy to have chosen that path, as with RoR you can build cool functioning prototypes without tons of experience (e.g. for me a month or two of casual learning). RoR is also pretty common in the start up world, and just knowing the ropes of it can be a great advantage even just as a designer.

I'm not sure what you're plans are for your year off, but I would live in a city with lots of companies/industries and activities that interest you. Not everyone feels this way, but the vibes of being in a big city aren't really matched anywhere else

I would love to live in just a city, period.

I live in the south, and it's not fun. I do love the city when I get to go but living there costs a lot and I don't know how I'd pay for a decent place. Unless any 'hacker' houses were available. Hmm.

You answered your question with your own final sentence:

"I have a huge passion for the web and learning new things."

That's exactly what you should focus on. What catches your eye? Read up on the why's and what-for's of each faction of web reality, from data storage to real-time GUI processes. See what you think is most exciting, or which elements of the "real world" you want to be a part of, and see how technology helps them do their work better.

I hope you continue the path you are on: whatever direction you take, you will be ahead of the many around you that don't have that Passion. Match your work to your passion, and you can not help but excel-

Best wishes-

Hard question to answer because 17 is such a transitional age.

When I was 17, the only things I had passion for was baseball & girls. So, I guess I would have worked harder at the first.

I can't really say "I would have done X" because that's not who I was then. BUT I do have a 17 year old daughter ... so, if you're asking what I would tell her if she took a year off college, I think it would be: (a) don't get a credit card, (b) pick an art/technology/cooking skill that can be learned in 3 -6 months and do it, (c) then either travel to a 3rd world country and live/volunteer OR volunteer/intern at a startup

Go towards your pain. Fix it, then share your solution with the world.

Visit as many friends as you can. Road trip every weekend!

that sounds good actually.

Are you American?

If so, build a credit score. It'll take you 10-20 hours and make you thousands of dollars.

Easiest way from a scratch: Go into your bank, deposit money into a CD, get a secured loan against that CD.

Doing this correctly will make you lots later. I just got a couple new AMEX cards with 75,000 membership reward point signing bonuses each. Those can be used for $750 in statement credits. Yes, American Express just gave me $1,500 for signing up for new cards with them. Seriously. And that's just the tip of the iceberg for illustrative purposes. Get a credit score. You in 5 years will thank me for making/saving you thousands of dollars.