What if some lessons only settle into one’s soul after trial and error? Well, the name of that teacher is “Experience”. The fact that it administers the test before the lesson is one of its most amazing qualities.
Once in a while, at least, this makes the process a little messy. Maybe that explains why people both welcome and shun experience. We often do not wish to walk through the right deadlines and unforeseen challenges. However, much of what matters in life is seldom found inside the four walls of a classroom.
In a Pew Research Center survey, 85% of workers considered interpersonal skills to be extremely important. 84% ranked critical thinking in the same category of importance.1 You can read about such skills in a textbook, but they do not become a part of you unless practiced.
Want to know more about life’s greatest teacher? Keep reading, as this article will share three solid reasons that make the experience the master sculptor of the mind. After all, wisdom grows from the soil of lived moments.
It Offers Lessons You Cannot Learn Anywhere Else
No matter how much you learn from a textbook, real life can always have something more unexpected to offer. There is a reason why even the most seasoned students opt for practical experiences in their field of study.
Let us ponder a bit: Can theory compete with unpredictable real-world challenges? On the same note, can it come close to moments that demand real human judgment? The answer is self-evident, but research is also in favor of experiences.
A study on early-career professionals was carried out in 2025. Those who had experiential learning showed striking differences from those who did not. First, the initial salary disparities were $59,059 and $44,048, respectively.2 Additionally, compared to the inexperienced learners, the former had a better career trajectory.
You are aware of the adage “learning by doing,” aren’t you? It is something humans have participated in right from the time they learn to walk. What is more, the same strategy works even in producing desirable career outcomes.
Now, let us look closely at what a real office environment, with its daily pressures, has to offer in terms of learning:
- You can cultivate discernment of human tone and body language.
- Depending on the circumstances, you can sharpen your edge for split-second decisions.
- Even with a few hiccups, these environments become lessons on handling pressure the right way.
- You also get to fine-tune your adaptability skills, precisely the ability to meet changing demands and priorities.
Experience was never meant to be a supplement to education. On the contrary, it is the most important kind of education that life alone has to offer.
It Develops Unshakeable Confidence and Competence
Can textbook knowledge provide confidence or competence that the world cannot shake? Perhaps, but that in itself is only a theory. Unless experience sizes it up, how would you even know that the knowledge you have actually works?
In many professions, theory alone will never do the needful. True mastery is that which is tried and proven. Unless professionals face real-world challenges, how can they trust their own reasoning or judgment?
Consider the example of nurses who often encounter high-stakes situations. Such scenarios demand not only quick but also precise discretion for favorable outcomes. If a nurse wishes to transition into the teaching field someday, their experiences become a priceless practical foundation.
However, it will require more than clinical expertise, namely, the ability to guide and mentor others. This is where MSN nurse educator programs online become invaluable. Being a Master’s in Nursing means that registered nurses receive instructional skills and strategies to become effective educators.
Moreover, the online aspect of such courses makes accessibility to knowledge possible while continuing clinical practice. As Spring Arbor University shares, it’s a field meant for those who have a passion for patient care and a desire to shape the future of healthcare. The more someone engages in both, the more their confidence grows.
They will reach a stage of such unshakeable assurance that theory alone would have never afforded. Mentioned below are the precise reasons that make experience a source of unshakeable confidence:
- More often than not, you have to make choices under duress.
- You have the opportunity to get insightful input from mentors and peers.
- You can solve issues on your own and adjust to new situations.
- Over time, your confidence grows as you deal with small victories and setbacks.
It Reveals Strengths/Weaknesses and Deepens Purpose
Need someone to hold up a mirror so you can name your strengths and weaknesses alike? Then, look no further than experience! The same will show you your positive side, and sometimes, the truth can be bittersweet.
In other words, you will get a real taste of what you’re naturally good at and what still needs refining. That is as honest a feedback as anyone can receive. Do you think a personality test or a classroom exercise can replicate it?
Now, the reason this happens is that experience forces people into situations where they cannot help but discover themselves. Consider a particularly demanding workday. Your manager considers the latest report you prepared to be sub-standard. Just when you think it cannot get worse, they expect you to turn it in within half a day.
Such scenarios bring out the best, the worst, and everything in between that an individual may have. Most importantly, they become fertile grounds to polish one’s positive traits. In similar situations, you have the opportunity to discover:
- Low-key superpowers in the form of empathy for others and staying calm under stress
- Work rhythms, such as thriving in a chaotic environment or being excellent at decomposing a problem into manageable steps
- Emotional triggers, such as your capacity to handle pressure
All of these can even become a compass pointing towards a deeper purpose. A great many people discover what truly matters to them when they are tested. As per another 2025 research report, 24% of the workforce worldwide believed that they had the skills needed to advance to the next level in their career.3
Where does such confidence stem from? Most certainly not textbooks or credentials! They come from hands-on learning and growth witnessed on the current job.
The best thing about learning from experience is that it only creates the appearance of career-focused skill development. In reality, you’re being prepared for life at large.
Every stumble on the road pushes you one step closer to success. Textbooks may teach this, but the lesson is only reinforced through experience. This also applies to accepting uncertainty, taking chances, and enduring difficult circumstances.
If you want good judgment to rule your decisions in life, chase after experiences. Do keep in mind that there may be a couple of bad judgments along the way. Just apply the lessons you learn and watch your career and life change.
References
- Pew Research Center. 2024. Views of Job Training and Workplace Skills in 2024. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2024/12/10/job-skills-and-training/
- National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). 2025. Impacts of Experiential Learning on the Gen Z Early Career Experience. https://www.naceweb.org/about-us/press/internships-experiential-learning-impact-early-career-success
- ADP Research. 2025. People at Work 2025. https://uk.adp.com/about-adp/press-centre/only-24-percent-of-global-workers-are-confident–they-have-skills-for-career-advancement.aspx
