I am a 14-year-old High School student-athlete (’27) from Encinitas. Teachers and coaches describe me as curious, hard-working, and determined. From 2020 to 2023, I was a part of the international press corps as a working kid reporter and youth journalist for Scholastic Kids Press. I merged into journalism as a kid because I was passionate about learning and had many questions. In 2020, I was the WhoWas? History Bee Champion, when I was interviewed by the local press, I realized journalism is a great way to learn people’s stories.
I am now using that experience to drive my interest in Neuroscience, Sports Psychology, and innovations in Athletic Development. In particular, I want to apply the best of science to my own discipline as a multi-sport athlete. My primary sports are Water Polo (Attacker/Wing) and Baseball (RHP/SS.) I also play Volleyball (Libero), with a preference for beach volleyball, and plan to complete in Swimming (Fly/Brs.) Academics are my priority but I work hard for the opportunity to compete in multiple varsity sports for diversity of movement and development. I will choose a primary sport in July 2025, with the goal of being a high-level collegiate athlete.
Outside of school, I compete in club water polo and baseball. Being named to the 2023 USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program (ODP) for the Pacific Southwest was an honor. Learning about teamwork was a highlight of the 2023 Jr. Olympics(14u Carlsbad Water Polo- 18th in the USA.)
Combining my experience in journalism with my passion for sport and San Diego, I am currently serving as the Team Ambassador and Youth Correspondent for Pro Volleyball Federation’s San Diego Mojo. The women athletes and leadership of the newest SD professional team are teaching me about innovations in sports science, training, and mindset. Their talent is matched with dedication, humility, and gratitude. It’s inspiring and at a time when the sport is surging, it will be amazing to see how that motivates a new generation of young athletes.
As a neurodivergent learner, I advocate for integrating movement and reading as critical benefits for academic success. I am a 4.0/4.4 High School honors student, passionate about learning and reading. Since 2020, I have volunteered as a national youth reviewer for the Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College and Library and an advanced reader for several publishers, including Scholastic, Random House, and MacMillan. This year, it has been an honor to serve as the first Youth member of the School Library Journal’s (SLJ) Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Committee. It has been amazing to help shape the debate about the best new books in children’s literature. The live webinar will occur on Friday, January 19th, preceding the national ALA 2024 awards.
Service is a big part of my identity and I am dedicated to committing time and effort to making the world a kinder, more inclusive place by contributing the most of my best in every aspect of my life. The Congressional Service Award, Bronze Medal was earned in 2023 for my service in the community. Major Tony Kranz appointed me to the Youth Commission of Encinitas for the 2023-24 term, where I serve on ad hoc committees for Youth Health Initiatives and Environmental Stewardship. I am passionate about finding ways to improve total physical and mental health for the youth community. Being outside and enjoying beautiful San Diego is a part of that so we have a responsibility to take care of it.
I am grateful to the mentors, teachers, and coaches who have answered many questions and pushed me to be the best version of myself. The experiences of meeting amazing people continue to bless my life and expand my network while continuing to shape my internal conversations about who I am and who I hope to be in the future.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I live in Encinitas with my sister and my parents. My dad is a Biomedical Engineer. My mother is an artist and a full-time family planner. She also worked as a Financial Advisor, Creative Director and Producer. My sister is a talented musician, writer, and actress.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Recently, I talked to one of the Savanah Banana entertainment baseball program leaders. He asked me what my future resume would look like if I were dreaming big. My resume reflects my identity as a service leader, learner, explorer, and athlete. I am passionate about exercise science, including neurology and psychology, of learning and growing to reach individual peak potential. In some ways, the career I want is more about living healthily and using global innovation to change what that looks like. I think my career will be in a growing field of science, and I want to be a light and a compass to guide others to a life of health service in a kind and meaningful way.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Everyone has a story. My advice is to work hard, making the most of everyday opportunities while building your own story. Also, be brave in asking questions that help you to understand and appreciate the stories of others.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
That is so fun to think about. In five years I will be 19 years old. I hope to be a collegiate All-American Athlete studying all elements of exercise science including psychology and neurology. When I am 18 I hope to somehow be a part of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and I think I will always be a service, literacy, and neurodiversity advocate. In ten years, I will be 25 years old. The 2032 Olympic Games in Australia as a Water Polo player would be amazing. I will be 23 then and hey, they also have great surf! As I get older, I would love to have a career like Adam Grant, being a light and a compass to guide others to a life of health service in a kind and meaningful way.
Quade Kelley & Our Community
Q: What are a few of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Tomoyama sushi (Encinitas,) and Tabu Shabu (Bressi Ranch)
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
My family moved to Encinitas in 2010.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Jeremy Waller, the General Manager of San Diego Mojo. He has been my coach and mentor since I was 8-years-old. So much of how I think has been influenced by him.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Encinitas Surfboards. I love to surf. When I am traveling through San Diego, I sometimes see people wearing the Encinitas Surboard hats and hoodies. Those people are always pretty laid back, friendly and outdoorsy. They are my neighbors and community.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Encinitas is a great outdoor, athletic, and artistic community. It’s full of extreme athletes from skateboarding, surfing, biking, and beach volleyball.
Q: If you could choose anyone alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
Just one? I could list 10, but I will give you my top California choices. 1. Father Gregory Boyle (Founder, Homeboy Industries): I would love to hug this guy and have lunch with him at Homeboy Cafe in Los Angeles. 2. Andrew Huberman (Neuroscientist/ podcaster, Stanford) – He studies and talks about the things I am most interested in learning more about. I would love to meet him for lunch and podcast anywhere. 3. Brian Alexander (Mental Skills Coach, Triton Mind UCSD): I would choose to meet him anywhere near the water (pool or beach) to learn more about training your mind to be resilient and how to motivate people to achieve their academic and athletic potential.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Ted Lasso because of the humor and positive messages. (I honestly don’t watch much TV.)
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I don’t think people know how much I read and listen to music. 99% of my phone usage is music of all types. I read over 100 books a year.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A day full of outdoor activity, the beach, and the ocean. We are so lucky to have all three in San Diego.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My parents and my coaches. Also, everyone I have the opportunity to interview inspires me in their own way.
Q: What community organizations and/or local nonprofits do you admire/support?
I have so much respect for our Military Community. In 2022, I interviewed Medal of Honor recipient Leroy Petry on the USS Midway. He gave me an army challenge coin with the directive to be a person worth fighting for. The military is deep in my family. My grandfather was drafted into Vietnam and served in the Navy for 20 years as a helicopter pilot. My pop was in the Army after WWII. He was also a founding board member of United Through Reading. I love that non-profit that is dedicated to connecting military families who are separated by deployment through reading. The YMCA and Hands On San Diego are also great non-profits that I support and have incredible volunteer opportunities for kids.
I am also a Youth Ambassador for Morgan’s Message. This organization is about helping to support the physical and mental health of athletes. So much of being an athlete is about performance but that is not the most important thing. We are all humans first. I admire that there is a community that celebrates that and I support that by advocating for total youth health initiatives in my school and home community.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
I am really lucky to have had incredible coaches who have pushed me to focus on the controllables: attitude and effort. In my interviews, a few people gave me advice that I think about daily. NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman told me to always ask questions that are in my heart. She said that learning my own way is the best way to lead in the future. Bertie Gregory is a National Geographic Explorer I have met twice. He encouraged me to find my passion and then prioritize that with my energy and time. Auschwitz survivor Rose Schindler told me that when things get hard to remember, there will be tomorrow. She taught me to honor my parents and my family. She also told me that sometimes, when things feel wrong or there is a bully, you need to be brave and act fast to do what you know is right. Medal of Honor recipient Leroy Petry advised me to live in a way that serves others by living to my most significant potential. That’s true. Everyone has a story and can give the most to the world by sharing that and being the best version of themselves.
Q: What Neighborhood do you live in?
Leucadia/ Encinitas
What I love about my Neighborhood:
The beach and ocean.
Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend:
Dawn patrol surfing, swimming in the ocean, community outdoor concerts, and sports competitions.
Q: Finally, what three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
God, Family, and the Environment and the three words that come to my mind. The places that feel most like home always have the people I love and the beauty of the outdoors. San Diego is a beautiful place, I feel lucky to live here.
