I am 24, a culinary student and I write as a hobby. I'm competitive so I love the writing contests but I'm not a sore loser. As my chef instructor says "You have five minutes. When you produce the best damn veal saltimbocca in the class, celebrate for five minutes then get back to work. If you catch your eyebrows on fire and burn your pan sauce, despair for five minutes then get back to work."
And yes, I have caught my eyebrows on fire before >.<