Excellence in Creative Writing--Could it go beyond the University?

Today, I was awarded by my university $125 collectively for a 1st place prose piece and a 3rd place poem. I am quite thrilled. Both of the pieces, along with two other poems were published in this year's Envoy, the campus literary magazine.

I'm graduating in a couple of months, so I started wondering what would happen to my creative writing after that. Without the Envoy to publish it, I'm afraid it will simply end up stored in a folder on my computer, labeled "Poetry" or "Creative Writing." No one but me will read anything new I've written--probably not even my husband. But I really like sharing my work with other people. And apparently (say two university awards and $125) other people like it too.

So. . .I've been toying with the idea of publishing a book of my own. Now, if I did, I wouldn't want it to be some kind of self-publication or some no-name publisher. To see my book on the shelves of Barnes and Noble is quite a lofty goal, but I think I'd rather "go big or go home" in a sense. I only want to publish something if others think it's worth publishing, not just because I think it's good.

All this to say. . .I've been given an idea for a book titled "The Life Works of a 21-year-old"--or 22- or 23-year old, depending on how old I'll end up being when I add my latest work. Basically, it would be the highlights of my writing (not necessarily the best work, since I'd like to give readers an idea about the major events in my life)--poems, stories, even journal entries or essays if they fit. I started writing poetry when I was 13, so I have a few years to cover. It would be like a coming-of-age story that shows my experience and growth as a person while also showing how my writing developed and matured. I think it would have something for everyone, since it would include a break-up poem about my first boyfriend and a story about the loss of my sister-in-law.

So, my question for YOU is, would you be interested in something like that? Do you think other people would be interested in it? I mean, I could always self-publish something because I know that my family and friends would love it. But they know me and they're biased. For those of you who read literature, do you think readers at large would pick up a copy?

I'd appreciate your input :)