1-2 out of every 100 students reach Black Belt and of those only 1 out of every 1,000 achieves his 2nd Dan
It's great to win a few prizes early on. It helps a writer to get noticed and to get some sales. It can also be a pain in the arse because it gets in the way of the quiet, contemplative time every writer needs, but which is particularly important when you are a new writer finding your own voice, and pursuing the things that interest you.