My niece just graduated from high school the other week, and I couldn't have been prouder. And a little envious.

She's leaving home this fall for college in California, where she'll learn about the world and about herself. A small part of me wants to shout, "Take me with you!"

It's not that I want to be like the guys on "Old School" and party till 3 a.m. every week or plan classes around my sleeping schedule. All right, sometimes I do miss that stuff. (Sigh!) Those were good times.

But if I could experience my college years all over again, I would definitely do a few things differently. Warning, kiddies: Advice from a grown-up is coming.

I'd attend all my classes, even when Astronomy 110 turned out to be more about boring formulas than cool constellations I could point out on dates. Maybe they taught that stuff on the days I blew off class to hang out at Campus Center. Dang.

I'd be more disciplined about studying, rather than getting by my first couple years on a vicious cycle of cruising and cramming. Given a second chance, I would actually read everything I was supposed to (Whoa, what a concept!) with the same energy and enthusiasm I had for Thursday-night clubbing. Maybe then I would have retained more information; you never know when a friend might be calling you for a lifeline about a microeconomics question.

I mostly took just the courses required to graduate and classes I thought would guarantee me an A (i.e., History of Rock & Roll, in which I earned extra credit for doing The Twist in front of the class). I don't regret taking that class, but I'm kicking myself now for not taking more courses to further my enrichment, like photography, screenwriting and political science. I loved creative writing and beginner's alpine skiing, even though a credit for the latter, earned in Massachusetts, obviously didn't transfer back to school here. Why didn't I take more fun stuff like that?

All in all, I would have fully taken advantage of the fact that for four years — OK, it took me five — my full-time job was simply to learn. No mortgage, no electric bills, no major responsibilities.

I think my niece appreciates the opportunities she has. The girl certainly seems to have a better head on her shoulders than I did at her age. Thank goodness.

So far she has led a pretty balanced life of working hard and playing hard, so I'm not really worried about her. I'm just excited she's beginning the great journey that is college, and I can't wait to live vicariously through her.

So I have just one request for her: Take a little part of me with you.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.