Excellent thread!
Some personal mantras that have worked for me over the years:
It’s easier to obtain forgiveness than permission. Don’t ask to take charge–have faith in yourself and do what you think is right. I still remember the day I put this into practice as a professional and the rewards that came with it.
Invest in yourself You’re paying a lot for school–it’s no time to skimp on everything else. Keep up on your IDSA dues, attend the conferences and tradeshows, buy nice clothes, travel to Europe or Asia, build your design-library, contribute to Core, buy a PC and get the design tools you’ll use etc.
Give your Ideas away Ideas are cheap, implementation is hard. Particularly in school be honest and open with your classmates–you have the rest of your professional life for your brain to be owned by corporate IP lawyers 
Be user-centric Don’t lose sight of what it’s all about: ie. the “users” not your ego.