If you are a self taught UI UX designer like me, the truth is that you will feel like you are at a disadvantage sometimes.
People that took bootcamps, people that have mentors, people that have tutors or a proper roadmap. They usually have someone to correct them, someone to show them certain fundamentals, someone to point out mistakes early, someone to tell you what not to waste time on.
So yes, you will miss some things they will not miss.
But at the same time, you are also not limited.
You are not boxed into what someone else believes is acceptable or what someone else believes is standard. You have the freedom to explore, to break structure, to experiment beyond what people normally think is possible.
And that is also a huge advantage.
So how do you balance this?
Study top designers. Learn from people who actually teach real value, who share real breakdowns, who explain why things work, not just random aesthetics. Observe what they do. Try to rebuild some of their executions. Understand their thinking, not just their visuals.
This is and will always be one of the fastest ways to catch up.
And if you stay consistent with that, you will compete with people who actually had mentors.