I grew a decent beard. Here's things to watch for -
It'll itch. It's also hard to wash, and if you don't wash it properly then you'll end up with flaky skin in the beard like less fortunate people have.
Ladies don't like that, and neither do men.
Other things to watch for are bare spots. Few people have a proper complete beard, and if you have bare spots then you'll look silly. Learn where your beard doesn't cover, and shave to compensate.
This is probably the number one reason why people grow goatees a lot easier than a proper beard.
Check the "post your pic" thread for how beards age people. And when you feel old, shave it off for an instant facelift.