Free will has nothing to do with it. I believe in free will, but when you walk out that door every day you don't know what life is going to throw at you. You have to ad lib. There are people who choose to stay indoors and pretty much avoid life. I don't want them as President.
Of course free will has something to do with it if you’re told that everything is preplanned, ‘a set-up’.
Now, if we go with your definition that set-up means that life’s going to throw different situations at you, then sure, our reaction is evidence of our ability to deal with a variety of circumstances.
I agree with you, if that’s what you meant.