Testimonials

„If I had to sum up Quest in one word, it would be ‘perspective’. I have a new perspective of myself. I have a new perspective on every decision I make, why I make it and where my intentions and my attitude lie. My perspective on challenge has developed, my perspective on things I take for granted has shifted. But perhaps the most significant change I’ve experienced has been my perspective on the life I want to live – what I want to get out of my short time at Quest and my life beyond.“

„I’ve learnt a lot about my fellow Questors and created friendships that will last a lifetime, but I’ve learnt a lot about myself and what makes me tick. I’ve learnt what triggers me and what makes me happy.

I have a fire inside of me, fueled by fulfillment and confidence, something that’s new to me. I will do my best to not let it dim, over the next years to come I’ll try my best in everything I do. I won’t lose momentum, since I’ve worked so hard to reach where I am now.“

„I have come to terms with who I am and I couldn’t be happier. I am glad I finally managed to take life on and actually do things where I would usually just be lurking in the background. I feel as if there is so much to explore and experience in this lifetime and can’t wait to pursue this Quest of LIFE!“

„Never in my life have I felt so close to so many people at once. I am used to finding friends in different friendship groups and buzzing between them, sort of aware of my solitude, but Quest really gave me a family of friends that I feel I have a true place within; where I am valued and understood and accepted.

Quest has shown me what kind of community I want to create wherever I go, where people say hello with a smile, regardless of how they are feeling.

Only after I did bricklaying did I notice all the brick structures around me and appreciate the efforts made for us to be living here. Only after I got involved in plumbing did I realise how easy it was to fix our tent’s pipes, and that I could be more self-reliant. Only after we created electrical circuits did I realise how superficial and useless my knowledge of electricity was from school.

I am also loving the sensory experiences I am exposed to. Like reconnecting with nature, like a kid. Walking around barefoot and climbing trees. Feeling the warm sand, wet grass, ocean, thorns scratching my body, sunlight. The feeling of my body after exercise and yoga. The way food genuinely tastes different when you eat with your hands. It’s all just so amazing to feel.“

„I recognise just how much I’ve grown and changed in these last few months. Coming from a sheltered environment, my time at Quest has allowed me to change my mindset, regain my trust in others, and mature on many levels. Quest has been instrumental in helping me discover my purpose, providing direction in my life, and easing my feelings of being adrift and alone. The skills and experiences I have gained here will stay with me for a lifetime. Although I know my journey is nowhere near the end, my experience here has given me a head start in life.“

„In conclusion, I have grown massively throughout my experience at quest, not only by improving my athleticism but more importantly by improving my ways of thinking, my introspection and by better understanding my own core values and the values that sculpt a better version of me. I realize that my journey of self-discipline has not ended but only just begun, I have learned to walk and now I must learn to run.“

„Personally I can’t see Quest ending because it has moulded me into the person I am right now and when I go back home, I will be the product of Quest and in that sense it never ends. Quest has been an incredibly influential force in my life and even though I don’t feel it now, I have progressed and grown so much and I almost can’t wait to come back home just to truly see the difference in myself.“

„On my journey to achieve here at Quest, I have fallen, made mistakes, been immature, but I have never stayed down. I pride myself in shaking it off and working EVEN HARDER to make up for those mistakes, and some.“

„Quest has been more than just a gap year program for me, it has been more than just a trip, more than an experience, Quest has been a definitive turning point- it became the most cherished five months of my life. With so many lessons learned and so many memories made, I discovered so much about myself and can be proud of what I’ve achieved here. From new found confidence, a stronger mindset and understanding of myself, Quest has become a marker of so much growth. Attempting to sum up my whole time at Quest and break down all of the things that warped me as a person and the experiences that helped me grow seems like a near impossible task.“

„Taking mental resilience back home with me will not be hard, I can keep this mindset that quest Has given me all throughout my life, I will take it with me into the real world, when I am working, I will always find a way to get a job done, I will not quit, quitting is for losers, and losers don’t finish Quest.

Quest has been the experience of a life-time, everyone giving you many years of experience packed into 5 very, very busy months, and it’s not just learning to run and weld, I learnt how to deal with tough situations, I learnt how to break through those seemingly indestructible mental barriers, to push myself above and beyond what I thought I could achieve.“

„When I joined Quest, I quickly learned that success in high-stress environments requires a different attitude. I had to adapt and understand that my teammates’ perspectives were just as important as mine. By fostering mutual respect, I became more reliable and effective in my role. This shift in mindset not only improved my performance but also strengthened my relationships with colleagues.“

„Seeing the animals around Quiet Waters and realising that when I am back home, I won’t have the opportunity to see animals like these and being with like-minded people. These simple experiences have become ones that I value, bringing me a deep sense of happiness and appreciation.

I’ve learned to take a step back and allow space for others to adjust. sometimes, people may take longer than expected, and it’s easy to get frustrated, but I’ve realised that being patient not only helps to keep the peace, but it also gives others the time they need to fulfil their responsibilities, which ultimately benefits everyone.

I have found interests in new acumens and I now have a much clearer understanding of what I want to pursue after Quest and in my career. I will continue to push myself in the future and set goals, so I am always moving forward and bettering myself as well as surrounding myself with people with the same interests, morals and values.“

A main point of Quest is to equip us to act. When something is wrong, we must act. When we are unhappy, we must act. Lethargy and procrastination are the antitheses to success.

„Physically and mentally I have never felt stronger. I arrived here fragile and often lacking the energy or willpower to do things I felt were out of my control or comfort zone. I feel confident in my abilities and I now know that I can do hard things, even if I fail in the beginning, even if it takes multiple tries and it feels like hell. I will leave quest taking away amazing experiences, true hardships and strifes, friendships made, broken and rekindled. Best of all, I’m leaving with confidence and love within myself, something that I lacked for so long. I am also leaving with some of the strongest relationships I have ever made, I have met people that I never thought existed and I am truly grateful to know that they are now apart of my life.“

„Since I’ve been here and seeing, even been shocked by, some of my peer’s acts of true selflessness, has really inspired me to do the same. I’m not referring to big, grand gestures you tell your grandchildren about, but rather small daily acts of kindness that show a true awareness of your surroundings and an understanding of what it means to be the ‘bigger person’ ….. silver linings on dismal days.

And I now actively search for things we’re lucky to experience but may take for granted. A beetle, a snippet of a song, the way light catches a tree, a tennis ball – just to name a few, and all real examples for me.“

„It’s difficult to quite put into words so how much Quest has managed to help me to turn my life around and to help set my adult live on the right path. The skills I was also taught by you are skills that I not only use on a daily basis but will be skills that will shape the rest of my life.“

„I feel like a new person, more understanding, resilient, and stronger physically and mentally.

At the beginning of Quest, we had our phones taken away and I couldn’t have been happier. I broke a habit I struggled to get myself out of and I began to really appreciate my environment and the people I was with. This is something I will take home; I do not feel the strong urge to always be on my phone just scrolling and scrolling. I will change my habits, and I will appreciate life more and do more things for myself.“

„Before the Quest Program, I was unsure about what I wanted to do with my one wild and precious life. Now, at the end of the most incredible five months of my life, I have a renewed sense of self-worth and direction, confidence in my capabilities, and have tangibly improved physically, socially, and psychologically.

Quest has enabled me to achieve what I once thought was impossible, from placing myself in a group of strangers, to running my 21-kilometre Grand Challenge, to fully overcoming my eating disorder and mental challenges, and finding a love for myself. I am leaving this incredible place a person that has gone through the best kind of metamorphosis: from a generally lacklustre attitude and little direction to a lust for life and a desire to experience the beauty that the world has to offer through adventure and tender moments with the incredible people I have met here that I will remain friends with for life. I have learned the importance of hard work, and feel equipped with skills and values for my first year of university next year, a journey that initially made me nervous, but that I now feel ready to pursue.

I feel a deep sense of sadness leaving my wonderful new friends, my incredible facilitators, and the beauty of Quiet Waters, but Quest has provided me with a “warrior foundation”, one that has prepared me for my further “quest” into life, and for that, I am eternally grateful and finally feel ready to start a new chapter.“