Freedom! Independence! Drive-through tacos! All of these things will be yours as soon as you are old enough—and skilled enough to back out of your driveway without running over your mailbox. Getting behind the wheel brings with it huge responsibility, but also fun and freedom. Did we mention tacos?

What feels like a small contribution from you can help make a significant difference for those among the 40.6 million Americans who live in poverty. The American Red Cross and UNICEF have great ideas on their sites to get you started.

Gain independence and a full belly in one step! Strong skills with simple dishes will keep you well fed—and make you insanely popular in college. Learn how to make a grilled cheese with tinfoil and a clothes iron, and you’ll have people lined up outside your dorm-room door.

There’s no way you could finish a 5K or a mini-triathlon . . . if you don’t sign up for one. Ask any pro athlete and they’ll tell you that success is 99 percent mental and 1 percent physical. The joy we feel when we accomplish something is proportional to how hard it was to achieve. Can't, schman't . . . The finish line is right there!

Sure, saving money for the future from your first-ever job is important. But so is a milkshake stacked crazy-high with toppings, concert tickets to Warped Tour, or a spa day you worked your butt off for. It's the best day of the year: Treat yo self!

Journeying into the unknown brings fun, excitement, and sometimes driving around in circles because Waze lost its signal. Adventures have a way of turning good friends into best friends and best friends into friends for life.

While everyone's snoring, you'll see a sight that seems like it was made just for you. Or if you're a night owl, NASA’s site has a “Watch the Skies” schedule of meteor showers. Same effect, less morning eye crust.

Who knows where it’ll go and how long it’ll take to get there? In 2016, a 108-year-old message in a bottle washed up on an island in Germany. Inside was a card that offered a one-shilling reward for anyone who found it and mailed it back. Sure, no one uses shillings anymore, and 1 shilling is worth about 7 cents, but still, pretty cool!

Whether you're campaigning for healthier lunch options or a school karaoke night, you're winning—confidence, people skills, cool campaign buttons—just by running.

How cool is this: StoryCorps lets you record a 40-minute interview at one of the recording locations listed on its site, or from anywhere using its app, and archive it permanently at the Library of Congress. So ask a grandparent about your family’s history—it’ll be a much more mind-blowing use of your phone storage than snapping what you ate for lunch. Trust us.

It’s easy to be cynical and think that politicians don’t care, but your voice matters—and phone calls can especially make an impact on what issues get tackled first (though speaking up of any kind is good!). You can find contact info for local, state, and U.S. officials at USA.gov. Get loud—be heard!

Small acts of kindness make a big difference in the world. Hold the door for someone; offer a spot under your umbrella; or cover the kid who forgot their money on soft pretzel day at school. It’ll be the best money you've ever spent.