If you’re only a couple years out of school and you already understand these points, you’ll do very well. As a freelance designer who’s been doing this for 17 years, the things you mention about knowing how to give and take critique, and developing soft skills are things I harp on about over and over again because they are so vitally important, even more so if you plan to create a freelance business.

Having a formal design education that teaches you design fundamentals, as well as the art of giving feedback, means you’re starting from an excellent foundation that a large percentage of your competition won’t have.

Go forth and do awesome things.