person A: I recently had a project of mine recognized in a national publication!
person B: Wow!  That must feel great!  You should be proud of this accomplishment.  People can go their whole lives without ever being published!
person A: It felt amazing to be recognized for my work_comma_ and in a publication I respect to boot! 
person B: Congratulations!  I wish I could be published.
person A: Well I certainly wasn't expecting it so who knows_comma_ maybe one day you will!