> So many of the things you learn, things you'd like your 17 year old self to know, are things that other 17 year olds already know; and vice versa.
Indeed, and many parents make a mistake by not realizing this.
They think about what they missed in their lives (e.g. money) and they want their children to have it, so they force them to go to med school and make their lives miserable by being too strict about studying and discipline.
They never look at what they themselves (the parents) had and took for granted (e.g. freedom, social life) and they don't see that their children don't have these things. The parents might even view these things as unimportant, because after all, they had a social life in their youth, but it didn't earn them any money! So it's better for their children to not have a social life, but instead get a good career so that they can earn money!
So many of the things you learn, things you'd like your 17 year old self to know, are things that other 17 year olds already know; and vice versa.
All I can really say is to explore the boundaries, do things that stretch yourself, that scare you, to minimize the risk of getting caught in local maxima. Learn to understand how your mind plays tricks on you, tries to stop you from growing. Think of e.g. showing an older grandparent how to use a PC, and of how difficult they find it, how they can't play with it, and learn on their own, because they lack the confidence; and how frustrating it can be when you know it's not actually hard, and all they need to be is open and playful. Keep that in mind when you think something is too hard or that you're not good at it; watch out for your own mind telling you to give up.