I used my hs years for community chessed (and earning money) instead of studying because I felt more productive being involved in chesed projects than studying endlessly; I simply enjoyed it more. I justified it: when I get married, my chesed will be mostly limited to my family, so I’d better ‘chap arein’ now.
When I got involved in chesed projects in seminary, my principal firmly told me that I had come to learn, so I limited my chesed to setting up for Shalom Zachors and Kiddushim.
In retrospect, I do not think my way is a good one for most girls, and I encourage my own daughter to balance chesed and studying, with studying as her current priority.
As my sem principal explained to me: when you really want to do something, it’s probably the yetzer hara, and you should do the opposite.
Since I wanted very much to be involved in projects outside of learning at a time when I should focus on learning, the best thing for me was to learn and help others as the doped up one mentioned above: by learning with weaker students or socially challenged girls.
You have to figure out what your needs are and what is the best way to fill them.
Some people have a greater need to give or do, and if you cannot fill that need at home, you should find a good way to channel it.