Emma Sawatzky, Staff Writer
February 9, 2024
Each year, Nobles bids farewell to members of Class II who choose to embark on a semester away. We plow ahead with classes, athletics, and extracurriculars as these select few expand their worldview in a transformative way. Having recently returned to experience their second semester on campus, they now share some key takeaways that will follow them into the foreseeable future.
To spend months without cell phones is to live in the moment. This is a truth that resonates with our semester-away students and will continue to serve them when thrown back into a world consumed by technology. For Noah Peters (Class II), a tech-free fall at The Mountain School was game-changing. “It’s taking a moment to put your phone down and just connect with the people around you–I think that is one thing I learned most,” Peters said.
Quinn Maley (Class II), returning from The Island School in the Bahamas, echoes the sentiment of strong connections formed in the absence of technology. “The connections you make are so strong, especially not being in contact with the outside world and not having technology. So there’s very little distractions, which makes strong bonds that can almost never be created at home or in another place,” Maley said.
Study abroad experiences offer a unique sense of autonomy, calling upon new forms of independence and self-sufficiency. Students commonly report an increased sense of security in their own lives after managing themselves in a new environment. “Being able to live on my own for a couple of months was really cool, especially to experience it at such a young age before college,” said Maley.
When considering a semester away, the main concern is usually what will be missed back at Nobles. After spending years on our Dedham campus, it can be difficult to envision a different educational experience. However, those worries prove to be trivial compared to what students gain from a break in routine.
“I thought I would feel like I was missing out here while everyone else was having fun together. But being there, I made so many new memories and had so many new experiences. And when I came back here, everyone was still doing what they were doing when I left,” Maley said.
According to Peters, living in the moment proved to be most important in fighting similar thoughts. “I definitely missed my friends, but by two weeks in, I had completely forgotten about everything at Nobles. I was just thinking, ‘You’re here now, and you need to just enjoy the time you have here,’” Peters said.
After spending months testing personal boundaries, students emerge with learned skills as well as vivid, fond memories. “One really good memory is when it had just snowed a whole bunch. We maybe got like six inches overnight, and everybody thought it was kind of sad to go to classes. And they gave us a snow morning, where the only rule was you had to be outside. Me and a bunch of friends went sledding, and I know I’ll remember that day,” Peters said.
Though there isn’t much snow in the Bahamas, Maley also shared a standout memory from her time away. “We had all just returned from Expedition, which was a three-week period where we were all away from each other. We got ready for dinner, and then we had a karaoke night in the boathouse, and that was the first time we were all together in a really long time. I think we just enjoyed each other’s company so much more. We all were just so happy to be with each other,” Maley said.
When prompted about what they will miss most, both Maley and Peters return to the authentic friendships forged during their semester away. “It was 50 kids, so it was small enough that you know everybody. I’m just going to miss the small connections that I had. I know there are people that I’m probably not going to see at least for another year that I would talk to every day,” Peters said. “We all go through so much, and we share so many experiences together,” Maley said. “You were thrown into this situation where you’d have to share a tent with someone you met 48 hours ago, and you’d have to trust these people that you barely knew. And then once you got to know them, it was so much easier and so much fun.”
(Photo Credits: Quinn Maley & Noah Peters)
