Are you writing for publication?

This forum is a bit of a downer. Everyone here seems to be the victim of a thief or of the attitude that getting something you believe in published is impossible and you must march to the high and mighty dollar's beat if you want to see results.

I'm 21, I recently rediscovered my love of writing, (which I used to be fanatical about when I was 10-13) and have just received my first truly positive feedback ever by a seemingly well-respected source (poetry.com and the International Library of Poetry). I entered their internet poetry contest and they sent me back a letter informing me that they would like to publish my poem (a modified version of ID#850153 if you want to check it out, the version they will print excludes the third stanza).

Until now I thought I would only write for fun and that being published would be my secret aspiration though I held no real hope for it. I was rejected from my University's creative writing program, I have no contacts anywhere in the world of publication and I have a relatively small portfolio.

In my mind writing for money is faulty to begin with. I wrote, (and write and will hopefully write forever) from my heart and with my mind regardless of saleability. I am trying to produce a book and I hope it will be read and enjoyed by many people (and therefore, must be published I suppose). If I get rich off it, great, if people read it and love it and I don't get rich that's great too. But how can I ensure that if it is good, really good, it will get the recognition it deserves (from editors, publishers, readers, etc.)? Is there any hope?

I realize many of the posts here are offered as warnings and as examples not to be followed, but, are there any examples that should be followed?

Here's to hope!
Robert Elbaz