By Sarah Carlson, Staff Writer

No more pencils, no more books.

Students are looking forward to summer vacation as a time to work and take a break from school.

Eric Johnson, freshman finance major from Boerne, said he will stay in Abilene this summer to work for the ACU Leadership Camps KidQuest and Learning to Lead.

Johnson said he attended the camps when he was younger and wants to give back to the camps that influenced him.

“My faith was molded here, and I want to give that back to the kids so maybe they can grow in their faith as well,” Johnson said.

He said he is excited about staying in Abilene over the summer because ACU is his home.

“Summer is mainly a break away from papers, tests and the stress of school,” Johnson said.

Elizabeth Robinson, senior communication major from Plano, is graduating in May and said she will go home to live with her parents until she can find a full-time job.

Robinson said she has had several interviews but nothing has worked out yet, and she is not alone.

She said only a few of her friends have found jobs, while the rest will still be looking for work after graduation.

Robinson said she is looking forward to not having schoolwork, and she thinks her classes and internships have prepared her well for the workforce.

“I’ve loved my time here at ACU and am cherishing every last minute,” Robinson said. “But it is exciting to move on to the next chapter of my life and start applying what I’ve learned.”

Andy Smith, sophomore art major from Abilene, will stay in town this summer and work for Shake’s Frozen Custard.

Smith will be moving into his first house and said he needs a job to pay rent.

He said he will also be making his own version of America’s Funniest Home Videos with a couple of friends and will start recording the next CD for his band, Seabeck.

Smith said he does not mind staying in Abilene either.

“It’s really great; it’s like exploring the surface of the moon,” Smith said. “There are all sorts of interesting places I haven’t found yet.”

John Garrett, freshman finance major from Abilene, said he will be in town working possibly two jobs and taking an ACU online summer course.

Garrett said he is working to save money for pledging in the fall, a ski class he is taking and attending Oxford I next summer.

He said he is thinking of visiting Unity, Maine, where he went on a Spring Break Campaign this year, but only if he can get there cheaply.

Garrett said he does not mind staying in Abilene.

“It’s not bad,” Garrett said, “but there are definitely more exciting places in the summer.”