As a young person, I entered the world of work ignorant and inexperienced. Equipped only with the theoretical knowledge of the curriculum.

I've realised that self-confidence comes with years of practical work in the profession you've trained for. And by being given more responsibility over time through the work you do, for example because your superiors and colleagues think you're suited to it. An environment in which experienced professionals want to support you is a good prerequisite for your further development. One can help this even better if you seek for exactly those characters who love to share their knowledge and expertise (at least, this is what I have been given throughout my work-life).

Back then, I had a team leader who was rather sceptical about a proposal I made for the implementation of a project and said that he wouldn't recommend it to me like that, but that I should see for myself how successful it would be. In other words, he gave me room for mistakes. I think it's important to gain practical professional experience in order to later feel confident in what you do.

Whenever you enter a new field, knowing that what you've learned about this field will have gaps is not the worst.

you realise what you do not know is growing at a faster rate than the things you do know.

I find this to be true.
It's good to keep this in mind in order to remain realistic. At some point, however, you take the risk of going out into the world of work and testing whether what is written in the paper (your own or that of others) works for you, whether it applies or whether it proves to be falsifiable (in part or in full).

When I finished my third education around 13 years ago, I've written a final paper about a very specific topic. I was very convinced at that time about the accuracy of the concept and about the meaning it held for me within the given framework. After practicing ten years in the field though, I realized that much of what my paper contained was based on wishful thinking, although underpinned by academic works of others who also endeavoured to make this concept socially acceptable.

In short, it was how I wanted the world to be but I then saw that it collided with the realities of life. HaHa!
To laugh about my own ignorance, I find, is a good way for me to stay serene. It's good to admit mistakes and then go on. In that sense, my paper collected dust as well because I wouldn't want to show it since it became flawed for me.

Was it worth it? Yes.