A lot of my friends think I’m crazy.
A few months ago, I figured out that upon completion of winter
quarter I could graduate early, fulfilling all the necessary
requirements a bit sooner than planned.
Yet, I chose to continue taking classes this spring. I was
caught off guard by the frightening notion of actually being done
with college, and frankly I did not feel like I had completed my
edification. I have forsaken three months of extra slumber,
television and leisure ““ but many students faced with a
similar situation have taken a much different path.
Seniors who opt out of spring quarter can be divided into three
categories: the indulgers, the test takers and the workers.
This phenomenon is far more prevalent than many underclassmen
may imagine, as students often finish the coursework for their
major sooner than they expect.
I’m profiling one student from each category, so that
others may learn about their options. While these students have
completed their educations, they plan to graduate in June with
their brethren ““ and save some money along the way. (I hope
my parents don’t read this.)
My roommate Anthony DeFrenza completed his education last
quarter and is using the spring to explore various pursuits. A
(former) civil engineering student, DeFrenza, who fits into the
first category, is brewing his own beer in our closet.
“Beer making has been consuming my life,” DeFrenza
said. “Not only am I trying to make beer but I am trying to
outfit my bar for beer-on-tap capabilities.”
Yes, we have a bar in our apartment.
When I learned that my roommate would not have his usual 8 a.m.
engineering classes, I started to worry that he’d be spending
most of the day on the couch, watching the Oxygen Network.
“I’ve been pretty good about not turning the TV on
in the day,” DeFrenza said. “I watch some at night.
I’m going to read books. My plan initially was to still get
up early and have a set thing to do every day. I was going to make
Mondays the beach day, and Tuesdays the new restaurant day. I
haven’t really stuck to that.”
While most seniors who choose to forgo spring quarter make this
decision in advance, for DeFrenza, the decision was taken out of
his hands.
“About two weeks before the end of winter quarter my
counselor told me that if I accepted credit for an independent
study class I was doing that quarter I wouldn’t be allowed to
take classes in the spring,” DeFrenza said. “First I
was excited, then I realized I didn’t want to quit school and
work six days a week at the restaurant. So then I was disappointed,
but then I realized I worked pretty hard for three and half years
so why not take a three-month vacation.
“Then I was excited again.”
(DeFrenza used to work at PF Chang’s. He did quit, and now
I don’t get any more free sweet and sour soup.)
While DeFrenza is also spending his free time preparing for the
Engineer-In-Training Exam and taking a UCLA Extension course in
construction estimating, he surely can be qualified as an indulger
(all I’ve seen him do today is make an avocado and bacon
sandwich, watch television and read a Howard Hughes biography). But
for the test takers, spring is a time for continued studying.
Margaret Coblentz, who studied political science and history
while at UCLA, has returned home to Chicago to study for and take
the LSAT and the Foreign Service Exam.
At home, Coblentz will be free of the distractions that Westwood
may offer to a young person, allowing her to focus on her studies.
She plans to return to Southern California in June.
“I’m going to come back after the LSAT,”
Coblentz said, adding, “I don’t miss school yet.
I’m sure I will soon. I have been thinking about how much fun
everyone has been having without me.”
Finally, there are the workers ““ those former students who
do not take class in the spring in order to make a bit of money.
Laura Ottersen, a former history and English student, opted out of
spring quarter so she could work a few jobs and make money for her
impending move to Washington, D.C.
“I figured it out the beginning of the year,”
Ottersen said. “I didn’t plan on it but it worked out.
I saved 2,000 bones. I’m eating that in rent but I get to be
here and do the fun things and not stay in to write
papers.”
Ottersen works at the John Wooden Center, teaches swim lessons
and is a nanny.
“I miss seeing everyone on the walk to class, but I do
work on campus,” Ottersen said.
Perhaps these former students have the right idea. When I
interviewed them, each spoke with the breezy tone of a retiree.
Maybe I have it all wrong.
“The nicest part is knowing you are guilt-free when you
are doing something,” Ottersen said. “The Kings-Lakers
game is on right now, we’re going down to Sepi’s to
watch it. Do you want to come?”
Oh, awesome. Wait, I can’t. I have to study.
E-mail Miller at dmiller@media.ucla.edu.