Similar story here. I once had an assignment which was a part of an art contest with the theme “how to make the world a better place.”

I simply took a photo of a tree and gave it the description of “I would make the world a better place by planting more native plants.”

I got an award for it and didn’t think of it beyond that. Several years later I dated a friend from then, and it turns out I got first place in the entire school. She got second and put in effort with a drawing.