Are you someone who went to university

[magic haven]

Yes. I went to CEGEP (Quebec college system) and university in fine arts and design, respectively. I learned art and design techniques in CEGEP, and mostly design history, concepts, and thought in university. But most of my technical, digital skills I learned on my own, out of wanting to make and build. I had been "designing" consciously since highschool, and making art consistently since I could make a mark on a page.

I saw many students who didn't give themselves the time to practice or explore, to understand what they were doing. They tended to dropout after first or second year, though not all. But they struggled immensely; they weren't there for the love or interest in design, they were there because it felt like the right career for them, at some point.