Because of my own impatience, I missed Beijing. In 2023 I competed at the International Earth Science Olympiad online and won a bronze medal — Data Mining Test. 3rd place out of 12,000+ participants from 29 countries. Top 0.02% globally. IESO has a rule: you can only compete once in your life. My one shot was 2023. I took it online and got the medal. But in 2024 the olympiad was held in Beijing. If I had waited one year, everything would have been covered — flights, accommodation, the full experience. I would have walked into that room in China representing Kazakhstan in person. I didn’t think it through. Chose 2023 online out of impatience. The medal is real. But that experience — competing on that stage physically, being in Beijing with the best earth science students in the world — that version of the moment is gone. One entry per lifetime. I used mine, just not the way I would today. #IESO #EarthScience #Kazakhstan #Olympiad #Agartu #KAEF