I'm going to recycle a recent post I made because it applies to you too!
"I'm about to go to bed, so a single important tip:
Backgrounds are super important in 5e, almost as much as your character race. They provide you with additional skills and perks.
You can soft multi class this way. Your paladin could be an Outlander and know his way in the wilderness, or grew up as a street urchin and know how to sneak.
I mention this because more than one player I know glossed over that chapter..."
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