I always ended up focusing more on writing, but now I wish I'd kept drawing too. Even if it was all 'bad' back then, I never had anyone encourage me about it or give me con/crit and that sounds like a big "woe is me" sorta thing but- well, yeah, it is.
It was just a different time I guess; now you see posts and stuff floating around encouraging people to encourage others. Even if you see flaws in someones art, you tell them "Keep at it!" or "Maybe if you did this or that." You point out their strengths and try showing them where they could improve.