not really, if you mean success through the learning process of trial and error. let me illustrate;
i've seen kids enrolling in 3-year courses that they aren't suited for, which their parents paid hard-earned money, just coz their pals did the same due glamour / hype etc and end up in a job that was entirely different that put paid to the resources and time spent for both parties, hence they now have career guidance counsellors in schools.
you're right that aptitude plays a very important part, but kids don't know different and that's where parents, teachers, counsellors, role models etc have a role in dishing out advice and guidance to help stem and minimise this anomaly - in the education context, of which there's a high price to pay for and which can surely be avoided.
if you mean taking hard knocks being part and parcel of growing-up, i'd agree as that brings resilience and tenacity in character building to face later challenges in life - as we know that experience is a good teacher but a bad master. what this thread refers to, is totally different in that wishful-thinking and reality are at odds.