This is such a fun read, @negativer. As always, I love your writing. But it's really special to get some interesting insights into your past. And your phrasing always blows me away.

I had received a writing scholarship as a result of a writing competition I had entered. I still have the newspaper clipping laying around somewhere. Me with my bowl-cut hairdo, standing proud with a couple other kids who had submitted and placed as well.

This is so sweet and charming! It makes me want to hug the young you that earned that scholarship and had his hair cut in the shape of a bowl. I just want to pat him on the back and say "Good job! Keep writing! You've got this."

Good luck in the contest!