Novels attempt to render human experience; that's really all they are. They are meant to convey empathy for the character.
There's nothing I've done which I'm ashamed of or I thought was actually bad.
You will encounter many distractions and many temptations to put your goal aside: The security of a job, a wife who wants kids, whatever. But if you hang in there, always following your vision, I have no doubt you will succeed.