I was blind.
My glasses were broke and I refused to wear contacts at the time. Right eye -4.00, left eye -4.25 with astigmatism.
I was at a collegiate journalism awards event.
My editor submitted a story I wrote in the Sports Writing category. An emotional piece that followed the recovery of the school’s top basketball star.
It did not win.
My editor told me later that my story was disqualified. He submitted it into the wrong category.
“Sports Writing” was reserved for the reporting of games and events. My story was a human interest piece, which should have been submitted into the “Feature Writing” category.
Better luck next time, buck-o.
The next day, one of my English professors said he saw me at the event. I did not see him for reasons already established.
He asked how I fared in the awards.
I told him about the tragedy that befell me.
“Ahh,” said he as he nodded knowingly. “Distinctions.”
