If I were ever granted one wish, I’d wish to make the Nobles Beach a real beach. This dream of mine did not begin when I toured Nobles as a prospective student, nor did it start on my revisit day. No, my dream of a beachy Beach dates all the way back to the fall of 2019.

I was in sixth grade and a fierce competitor on the small but mighty Winsor Middle School Soccer Team. I remember the day my team rolled into the MAC, wandering the fields of Nobles in search of our game. We traveled all over: past McLeod, the Castle, and Mason, looking for a field that was “near the water.” 

“I hear they have a beach,” said one girl on my team. “Maybe that is where our field is.” When I heard this, I stopped dead in my tracks. A beach? Really? It can’t be! My imagination ran wild as I pictured white sands, turquoise waters, and waves crashing. I closed my eyes and saw students jumping in the waves and playing games in the sand. A vacation from school, at school. Although I was quickly snapped back to reality as my team got ready for our game, I remained curious about this “beach” as the Nobles team dribbled around and scored goals. 

My mom is a Nobles graduate, so my whole life, I had heard tales of castles and assembly concerts, but I never imagined that this fairytale school would also have a beach. But as years passed, the idea of a beach at school slowly faded away. It was not until I applied and returned to campus for my revisit day that I learned what the Beach actually was. And although sometimes, especially in the most recent weeks when it is 75º and sunny, the Beach really does feel like a vacation from school. I still catch myself sitting in Shattuck, looking out at the green grass, and imagining what it would be like if the Beach were a real beach. 

So here is my vision: Instead of grass in front of Shattuck, I propose a field of white sand. Instead of pavement walkways, we would have ocean streams. All day long, students could lounge out on the Beach, taking in the sun and hanging out with friends. Everything school should be. 

For those of you worried about how you would get from one building to the next, don’t fret. Inner tubes, small boats, and kayaks will be waiting for you in the doorways. How fun does that sound! And, without paved walkways, Spikeball nets will never be crushed by cars driving through campus. In fact, in my vision, there is an endless supply of Spikeball nets, Adirondack chairs, and hacky sacks. And you won’t ever have to worry about ruining the grass, because, duh, there is no grass. With this new Beach comes a new dress code as well. Beach attire is encouraged. We’ll trade jeans and sneakers for bathing suits and flip flops. 

While some argue that this beach is not conducive to good learning, I say just the contrary. Studies show that a fun, relaxed environment enhances cognitive growth. Plus, we could all benefit from just a little extra Vitamin D. So, instead of renovating the Omni or adding a new track, it is time the administration considers a real beach.