Hi Mace,
The line can seem intimidating to start because of the high speed, quick chatter, and everyone else seems to know what others are thinking before they say it. I (fondly) remember my first days on a line - mid summer, super rocking, tickets flying, other cooks slamming out food and feeling a bit like my feet were stuck in mud. BUT the groove comes quickly and it is a blast once the jitters go away.
To do it all over again there are a couple things I would have done better:
First is I would have asked if I could come in for 1 or 2 days (unpaid) and just observe the line - maybe help out by stocking plates, sweeping, restocking the line, whatever. You get to see what the food looks like and get a feel for the vibe of the line without having cooking duties to focus on. Also, you get to know the layout before the real pressure is on.
Second is know the menu and plating inside-out, take notes, whatever is required. Once the line gets busy it can be hard to get a question answered (is this brown enough? how dark to you take your (fries, wings, tempura, fish.. whatever); if you have a chance to observe before your 1st day, this can help also.
Every kitchen stages food differently; calls tickets differently; expedites differently; and when I started some kitchens had really good trainers and structured orientation programs, whereas others left it to the other cooks on the line to train while they were trying to prep and do their own job which isn't ideal. You mention you are a culinary student so your perspective recently in a kitchen is that you are the student, and you look to the chef/instructors to be teachers. In a restaurant the people who will train you are not chef/instructors by trade and so be aware of the different point of view they may have. The other line cooks are there to do their job and cook food, so some may see training others as a real pain, or not.. depends but you should be aware of this and don't take it badly if you have someone be a little frustrated as you learn. It is all part of the journey and so don't take it hard.
Most important, have FUN and don't let the speed and pressure ever make you put out a bad plate.