Graduation day rolls around. Diplomas are handed out. You celebrate the idea of “no more school!” You’re done. Or so you thought.

What might surprise you is the learning process shouldn’t stop when you take off your cap and gown.

Your entire education experience should help you prepare you for the real world, a place where learning is a career-long journey. When you enter the work world, knowing how to improve your knowledge on a subject is an important skill you’ll use over and over. You will constantly have to adapt to new technology, new skills, and even teach yourself a few things through trial and error.

That’s why it’s important to recognize that you don’t have to be in a classroom setting to identify learning opportunities. Push yourself. Every obstacle or mistake is a growing opportunity. When you fail, learn how to brush yourself off and get back up.

Here are a few common workplace challenges and what you can learn from them:

Challenge: Your boss shoots down your idea in the middle of a meeting.

Learning Opportunity:  Meet privately with your boss and discuss the situation. Ask questions about your contribution. Find out what was wrong with the idea and how you could have made it better. This will help you shape your ideas and suggestions to better fit the needs of the next project.

Challenge: You miss a deadline.

Learning Opportunity: Reflect on where you went wrong. Did you procrastinate? Did you fail to communicate effectively? Did you not ask the right questions about the assignment? Find out where in the process things collapsed so you can reinforce those supports next time.

Challenge: Someone else got the promotion you wanted.

Learning Opportunity: Congratulate your colleague. Then meet with your supervisor to discuss the skills you need to improve to increase your chances for a promotion in the future. Find out where your colleague surpassed you and work to improve those skills. Focus on the future and how you’ll reach your goals; don’t dwell on the past.

Challenge: You embarrassed yourself in a job interview.

Learning Opportunity: Reflect on the interview and make a list of the issues you had. Then, make an adjacent list of how you can fix them. Did you forget the name of the recruiter? Write it down next time. Felt clueless about the company and the position? Do your research before your next interview. Identify the problems and create solutions.

Taking advantage of learning opportunities, no matter how big or small, is key to your success in the business world. Self-growth and innovation are beneficial traits in associates.

Use challenges as stepping stones to better opportunities. Learn from your mistakes and consistently strive for improvement. That attitude alone can help bring you success.