The 6th National Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics

Young Scholars' Club (YSC) is the official organization that manages the National Science Olympiads in Iran.
(update: a few years later, Young Scholars' Club (YSC) was merged with the National Organization of Development of Exceptional Talents (NODET))
There are different criteria for the olympiad, like mathematics, chemistry, physics, literature, and of course, astronomy and astrophysics.
All the olympiads start with a test, and the people who pass it will attend the second exam. About 40 students will pass this second phase. Then, they will attend a summer school in YSC. After that, the 3rd exam will be held. Only 8-10 (depends on the field) will be awarded a gold medal. During the consequent year, these gold medal owners will get educated heavily and after the 4th phase of exams, half of them will be eligible to be a member of Iran's official team for the international competition (my blog post about the International Olympiad of Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA)).
Students who get the opportunity to gain a gold medal, are able to enter any Iranian university, in any major they want. The other students who got a silver or bronze medal would have special extra points in the Iranian university entrance exam, named "Konkour".

Earning my medal had a profound impact on me and my life. It gave me the confidence and freedom to choose my academic path without hesitation or distress. The recognition not only inspired me to set even higher goals for myself but also opened doors to opportunities and fueled my passion for learning and innovation.