HIGH LIFE : Summer Vacation Plans: Beach, Work and Travel

In a few short days it will be time for summer vacation.

Time to stay out and to sleep in.

Time to go to work, or, for those more carefree, time to play.

Time to take a trip or to trip on down to the beach.

Here are some responses to this week’s hot topic: “What are you doing over summer vacation?”

“I plan to work, spend a lot of time with my boyfriend and have a great time.”

--Vicki Scott, 18, senior, Canyon

“I’m going to the Colorado River, and then I’ll be cheerleading five days a week for school.”

--Becky Guiles, 16, junior, Canyon

“I’m going to work at Nissan to save enough money for college. I’ll also go to Key West, Fla., to visit my mom and my friends. With my free time, I’ll ride my bike to the beach and lift weights regularly.”

--John Tyler Barrington, 18, senior, Cypress

“I’m going to Washington, D.C., with my family and then the Cypress High School cross-country team is going to Yosemite.”

--Steve Olsen, 17, junior, Cypress

“I’m going to work two jobs during the summer so I don’t have to work while attending Cal State Fullerton next year.”

--Eric Perry, 17, senior, Cypress

“I’m going to Argentina for two months as an exchange student through a program called YFU (Youth for Understanding).”

--Hillary Marshall, 16, junior, Cypress

“Traveling to Scotland and Pennsylvania with my synchronized swim team.”

--Stacie Bantle, 15, sophomore, El Toro

“Working at Wild Rivers.”

--Bill Bedsworth, 15, sophomore, El Toro

“I am going to Brazil via AFS (American Field Service).”

--Bryan Carey, 17, junior, Fullerton

“I am going to France for about two weeks, summer school and finally to Hawaii to participate in a water polo tournament.”

--Brenchen Del, 17, junior, Fullerton

“I am going to practice with my band. I fully intend to have a major recording contract and tour coliseums by the time school starts.”

--Mike Edwards, 16, junior, Irvine

“This summer I will spend a week on a ship for the senior cruise to Mexico, a week in New York, and when I get back, I’m going to relax for a week in Palm Springs.”

--Merris Welch, 18, senior, Irvine

“For my final summer vacation I’m going to San Diego, getting a tattoo and having the greatest week of my life. After that, I will just work, relax and possibly get a place of my own.”

--Steve Cassidy, 18, senior, Irvine

“Going to the beach as much as possible and, of course, working.”

--Jennifer Richardson, 16 junior, Liberty Christian

“Unfortunately, I have to work. I do work at Disneyland, though, so it’s pretty fun.”

--Rick Hill, 18, senior, Liberty Christian

“I plan to split my time between working, dancing and having the best time I can on my meager income.”

--Steve Woods, 18, senior, Los Alamitos

“I will be doing two things--frantically trying to fight off boredom and frantically trying to earn money.”

--Mark-Erik Molnar, 17, senior, Los Alamitos

“I will be attending summer school at Golden West College to enhance my knowledge in the field of mathematics.”

--Jim Filipan, 17, junior, Mater Dei

“I will be taking a trip to Ireland for a month.”

--Nicole Brenner, 17, junior, Mater Dei

“I’m flying to Australia with my best friend for two weeks, and I’m also attending a leadership camp for three days. Other than that, I’ll be sleeping and having fun.”

--Rachel Ward, 16, junior, Orange

“I’m going to Mexico, work, and have as fun a time as possible.”

--Cory Fowler, 17, junior, Orange

“I’m going to be working at a school and going to the beach a lot. I’m also going to take an art class at this art college.”

--Josie Harmon, 15, junior, Rosary

“I’m going to be going to cheerleading practice almost every other day. In August, I’ll be going to a cheerleading camp in Santa Barbara for four days.”

--Carrie Smolanovich, 17, junior, Rosary

“I am going to go to the beach, movies and go shopping with all my friends. I am also going to go on dates.”

--Stacie Swaim, 15, sophomore Southern California Christian

“I am going to Minnesota. After that, I am going to Santa Barbara and staying in a beach house.”

--Julie Martin, 14, freshman, Southern California Christian

“Sleep in every day, go to work, go to the beach and eat a lot.”

--Vidal Perez, 15, sophomore, Trabuco Hills

“I will be going to the beach a lot. This summer will be a carefree one for me. Later in the summer, my family is taking a boat trip to Catalina.”

--Matt LeRay, 16, sophomore, Trabuco Hills

“I’m going to sleep in every single day, and I’ll probably go to San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. I don’t want to deal with anything that looks like work.”

--Rana Habbal, 15, sophomore, Trabuco Hills

“I will attend summer school and take political science classes. Then I will be going to the University of Colorado in Boulder for the National Latin Convention.”

--Grace Chen, 17, junior, University

“I will maybe get a job, and then go to Calgary, Canada. Then I’ll take a cross-country workshop at school.”

--Ellen Yu, 17, senior, University

“I plan to work and go to night school. I’m hoping to see the play ‘Les Miserables.’ I also plan to go on a family vacation to Dana Point for a week.”

--Michael Kidd, 18, senior, Valencia

“I plan to work two jobs--at Marie Callender’s and hopefully with a construction company. I also plan to go to Puerto Vallarta, and I might be able to go to Hawaii.”

--Everett Montano, 18, senior, Valencia

“I plan to go to night school and work the graveyard shift at Hershel’s.”

--Diana Titton, 18, senior, Valencia

“I’m working at a health care facility and I will relax, maybe go out of the country.”

--Ed Hsu, 16, junior, Woodbridge

“I’m going water-skiing and surfing.”

--Mark Simpson, 16, sophomore, Woodbridge

“I’m going to UC Davis for a summer humanities program. I will meet new people and experience living away from my house.”

--Carrie Shawber, 17, senior, Woodbridge

Next Week’s Hot Topic: “Which is Orange County’s best beach and why?”

Hot Topic responses gathered by Craig Campanaro (Canyon), Lynda Kim (Cypress), Dawn Stone (El Toro), Jason Loeb (Fullerton), Amy Chang (Irvine), Kathy Hills (Liberty Christian), Laurene Harding (Los Alamitos), Tanya Diaz (Mater Dei), Monica Neal (Orange), Amy Burke (Rosary), Chai Mai (Southern California Christian), Stephanie Jeffers (Trabuco Hills), Rebecca Leung (University), Jason Pommier (Valencia), Rebecca Evans (Woodbridge).