After a couple of buddy-box flights, I got cocky and tried it solo. Let the plane get too far away and put it through the roof of an abandoned (fortunately) barn. Several more weeks on another plane until the instructor said I was ready to solo. Not long after, I failed to concentrate on a low pass, got dumb thumbs and saw my Big Stik become a cartwheeling spray of splinters. Built another Big Stik and, two weeks ago, a cousin of Charlie Brown's kite-eating tree reached out and, fairly gently, embraced it. Just finished the repairs and hope to re-maiden it this afternoon. I'm about half way through the build of a GP Super Stearman, and sure don't want to get complacent with it!

A certain degree of jitters is good - they keep you on your toes. Just hang in there, listen to your instructor, and accept the FACT that accidents will happen. As you said, you've already seen experienced pilots plant a balsa tree.