"I was once a student in a punk T-Shirt hooked on screwed-up scenarios. That's how I became the esteemed cultural figure that I am today"

In this quote, Bruce Sterling is assessing his past as a trainee and how it shaped him into the successful cultural figure he is today. He explains himself as a defiant and non-traditional student, wearing a punk T-shirt and being drawn to chaotic and non-traditional scenarios. This suggests that he was not a common trainee, but rather somebody who challenged the norms and welcomed alternative perspectives. Regardless of this, he now sees himself as a respected cultural figure, suggesting that his distinct experiences and perspectives have added to his success. This quote highlights the concept that a person's past experiences, even if they may seem unconventional, can ultimately result in individual development and success.