+1 to this, there are a large number of low cost opportunities for 16-22 year olds that become orders of magnitude more difficult and expensive later in life.

+1 to this, there are a large number of low cost opportunities for 16-22 year olds that become orders of magnitude more difficult and expensive later in life. Notable examples include taking a year off to hike the AT or PCT. Volunteering in peace corps or americorps. Working in a different country, or working in a resort/tourism community. Later in life taking such actions will put a major dent in your career ambitions and finances, but early in life it’a much easier to avoid the question “what were you doing between X and Y”