I was in a daze when I received a call between 10 and 10:30 in the morning. My parents weren't home, so I wandered over to the phone and picked it up, assuming it would be them giving me a morning wake-up call. It was not. The voice on the line stated in a calm and friendly voice that he was calling to inform me that I had won Decipher's Boy Crazy Boy of the Year contest for 2003. I replied in shock, "What? I did? Really? Wow." I did not know what to say. I listened to the rest of what he had to say, and once he hung up the phone, I forgot it all, including whom it was I had just talked to. All that I remembered was the fact that I had won!

The last contest that I remember winning, minus a sports event, was something along the lines of three free cookies at lunch for filling out some survey, and I imagine that everyone in the school won. Now I had won a nationwide contest! The thought was nearly unbelievable to me, and as I told my friends what had happened, I think that they were more excited than I was. I remained in a state of shock until I went to school and everyone there congratulated me.

I cannot believe the support that I had at school. I knew that my parents and I were able to get solid votes from adults, and I figured that a few kids in school and a few kids who saw my messages online voted for me. This was apparently not the case. I had received a lot of support. To me, the most surprising thing to find out was how many people at school supported me. Friends matter, and when people that I didn’t think would vote for me told me that they voted for me, I knew that that was one of the best things that came out of this contest.

First of all, thank you Decipher for having this contest. I would like to thank my friends and family members for all of their support. Also, a thank you goes out to the local papers and radio personalities that gave me great press. But, the most important thank you goes to my mom and dad. I could never have won without your support and encouragement. I love you. Thank you.

Send Mark Fan Mail! Visit his page here!