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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.