Whether work or play, summer plans already laid out

With school almost out for summer, whether it's earning a little money at a summer job or spending time with friends, several students say they already have plans.

Stocking produce at Kroger in Evans, Aaron Murphy, 19, is following in the footsteps of his grandfather.

"My grandfather was actually a Kroger store manager for 33 years before he passed away," Murphy said. "When he passed away, I wanted to come to work in this business."

Murphy said he likes the job and plans to work about 30 to 40 hours a week during the summer.

Now that school is out, the business major at Augusta State University hopes to mix a little fun with work.

"I'm going on vacation, hanging out with friends, hanging out with my girlfriend and working; that's all I really do now," he said.

Aaron's younger brother, 18-year-old Sean Murphy, a rising senior at Greenbrier High School, also works at Kroger.

"I enjoy coming to work every day and dealing with the people I work with and the customers," he said.

When he's not working, Sean said, he likes to go to the lake or catch dirt track racing at Modoc Speedway and Gordon Park.

Lindsay Patchan, 20, a lifeguard at Farmington pool, watches children hurry along the pool deck.

"Walk!" she shouts.

Patchan said she has been a lifeguard for six years. She returned home to Evans this summer from Statesboro, Ga., where she majors in vocal performance at Georgia Southern University.

"It's a really great work environment," she said, adding that she enjoys her bosses, co-workers and the pool patrons.

"The hours are really flexible and the job is just really fun," she said.

The only downside of her job, she said, is that while sitting in the lifeguard's chair she gets half a tan during the summer.

"People make fun of the tan lines," she said.

Besides working at the pool, Patchan said she will return to Statesboro to practice for the Georgia Southern drum line and spend some time with her boyfriend.

Swimming at Farmington with friends, 13-year-old Mark Hensley, of Evans, said he was glad school was almost over.

"All the work we've been going through, it's nice to have a break," he said.

The Evans Middle School seventh-grader said he looks forward to playing basketball and golf and getting away on vacation.

Philip Winslow, of Evans, has plenty of workouts ahead of him this summer. At 14, the rising freshman hopes to play football for Evans High School this fall, and will attend camp there this summer.

"I'm going to hang out with friends, play some basketball and after that, do whatever comes around," he said.