Quest has quite literally changed my life. He teaches so much more than just how to succeed in Congressional Debate - coaching with Quest has helped me learn numerous life lessons that have empowered and inspired me to become the person that I am today. Whether it’s providing steep financial aid or helping students navigate challenges, anyone coached by Quest can see the level of care that he provides. Coaching went far beyond just helping me write good speeches as most of our sessions were focused on skill building where I was able to improve my critical thinking and public speaking abilities. It included providing advice to help me navigate challenges in my personal life and better understand the mental aspects of competition. I met Quest when I was 13 years old, and over the years, he’s become a mentor and family member to me. He will go above and beyond to not only help students find their potential in Congressional Debate but simultaneously help them become better human beings as well. He’s certainly done that for me.

Honestly, I don’t even know where to start. Quest’s coaching has quite literally transformed not just my debate career, but my entire life. 

I met Quest as a freshman in high school, having just completed a successful two-year middle school debate campaign. This success made most teachers and authority figures praise me without much basis, but Quest was different. He dug beyond outward appearances and judged my character. He was the first coach to honestly and bluntly demand true improvement. He called out my flaws–my laziness, arrogance, and lack of proactivity. At first, this made me uncomfortable, even upset, but I realized he was simply trying to prevent me from learning the hard way. 

When every roadblock or failure Quest predicted would happen, did happen, he didn’t come to me with an “I told you so” mentality. He knows exactly when a student needs support versus motivation. Quest offered honest empathy that helped me not crumble in the face of trials but rise above them. Beyond the technical skills like refutation or speaking (which he also teaches incredibly well), Quest forges better people, not just better debaters. He taught me what true dedication looked like. These lessons changed my life far beyond the world of debate. I approached all my passions and activities–from public service to tennis–with the same give-it-my-all mentality. This holistic transformation propelled me to academic heights I previously thought unimaginable: landing me acceptances into schools like Harvard and Stanford. I am not exaggerating when I say Quest played the biggest role in helping me attend Stanford: my dream university.

If none of the previous skills or accolades I listed convince you, Quest’s biggest strength is his genuine heart. I can’t name all the times he has extended debate lessons, provided advice for hours, or offered to review prep for completely free. During my senior year, he flew down (using his own funds) to provide me with in-person coaching and motivation before nationals. Quest is not in this for the money or the fame. He is truly coaching for the love of the game. 

There is no debate coach, teacher, or mentor I can recommend more than Quest. I hope your student has a chance to get to know him as well as I have. I can guarantee they and you won’t regret it.

If that nerdy 19 year old didn’t walk into my 9th grade geography class and promise fame and riches to anyone who liked to argue with their parents, I never would have stumbled upon the activity and community that has shaped the last 8 years of my life. Being coached by and working alongside Quest has shaped the person I am today. Throughout my career as a student, the thing I valued the most was the commitment and consistency Quest brought. It took about 3 years before I really started finding success, and maybe it was sunk cost or something but as long as I worked hard and stayed motivated, Quest refused to give up, even if there were times where I wanted to. For anyone who gets the privilege to work with Quest, he makes anything possible as long as you work for it. Other than his proven record as a coach, Quest consistently goes above and beyond for his students. When I didn’t have strong enough internet to compete during the online era, he let me compete from his own home. When I didn’t have the money for camp, I was given aid. And whenever I was going through something, I always had someone to talk through my issues with. If you asked me how Quest had changed my life, I really don’t know what I would point to, because that's like asking me “What if you were born into another family?” Quest has been a big part of making me into the person I am today, and if I was back in the shoes of 9th grade me, considering whether or not I wanted to join the John F Kennedy speech and debate team, I would sign up every single time, and I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything in the world. 

Being coached by Quest Sandel has been one of the most transformative events of my life. I’ve never met a mentor before or since that has been personally invested in ensuring that I’m not only the best competitor that I can be, but also the best person I can be. I began my debate career as a student with ambition to win, but lacking the tools or mindset to accomplish my goals. Quest is a relentless coach: constantly picking at arguments, critiquing speaking, and always reminding his students to ‘STAND STRAIGHT.’ That relentlessness is true about his dedication as well. He has spent countless hours helping my achieve my goals letting me know where my strengths lie and giving the best advice to fix my weaknesses. While countless nights were dedicated to bill breakdowns and refutation drills, there were also nights dedicated to just talking through my own mindset as a competitor and as a person. What inspires me most is that Quest was, and still, always goes beyond what is asked and expected of him. He goes beyond his hour session free of charge because of how invested he is in helping his students learn and develop as people. When I work with my own students I try my best to embody the relentless dedication and personal dedication that was shown to me by Quest. I consider myself incredibly fortunate and privileged to have encountered such a remarkable person whom I trust and who I know will support me and my goals throughout the rest of my life. His coaching has not only been educational, but inspiring, helping me become a better community leader and person.