I found Core77 during right before my senior year in high school. I remember researching how I could become a footwear (soccer boots specifically) designer and stumbled onto the site and forum. It was a wealth of knowledge and I sucked up as much as I could about school choices and how to prepare for ID in college. The wealth of information and willingness of people give it out was invaluable at that time as I had no other way of looking into the ID world.
After I got into school, I saw it as a great way to keep up the design discussion outside of the studio world. Also was a great way to get more feedback on my school projects. Seriously I tell every underclassmen that ask for advice to start posting on the Core77 boards. (sadly only a few have ever taken me up on the advice) It’s crazy how little student use the boards. You’ve got access to great designers that are willing to give you feedback, you just have to put yourself out there.