As exams creep up and anticipation for winter break grows, small talk will likely consist of, “What are you doing over winter break?”

Some will talk about their plans to travel, to see family or just relax around the house, and some will respond with, “I’ll be working.”

Students often work jobs they had in high school to earn extra money in the down time between semesters.

Kelsey Griffin, a sophomore in history education and political science, worked at Outback Steakhouse in New Bern before she came to State and enjoys returning to her job there.

“I’m excited to work because I love the people that I work with, and I’m broke,” Griffin said. “I work as an education advisor in Syme [Residence Hall] … but that’s not enough to pay the bills.”

Unlike Griffin, Mike Batten, a senior in civil engineering, is unsure if he will be working over the holidays.

But if he does, he said he will likely work outdoors.

“[My girlfriend] got me a summer job two years ago, and if I work, I’ll be working for the same guy,” Batten said. “I’ll be doing manual labor … I’ll be surveying land that will be landscaped later on.”

According to Batten, he is not working for the experience, but rather “for the cash,” and he expects to earn $200 or more.

Griffin also expects to earn a sizable amount of money from her seasonal job.

“I expect to earn $1,000 to $1,500,” Griffin said. “You never know what you’re going to make.”

While many students will take the opportunity to make extra money this winter vacation, several students don’t feel the need to work.

Josh Dudley, a sophomore in history, worked last winter break, but feels his job at the University secures enough money for him not to work.

“I work as a Scholar’s Village assistant for the University Scholars Program,” Dudley said. “Last year I worked at Food Lion over break. I also worked there during high school.”

Even though Dudley will not be working another job, he will use the break from classes to draw up plans for his job as a Scholar’s Village assistant. “We’re having a retreat when we come back,” Dudley said. “We will put ideas together for next semester and plan events, guest speakers and field trips. I’ll be putting four to five hours of planning in for the retreat [over vacation].”

Genese Gee, a sophomore in arts application, worked last winter vacation at Walgreens and feels relieved that she isn’t working this winter.

“I’m not working, frankly, because I don’t want to,” Gee said. “I don’t feel like working with the hustle and bustle. Each year it gets worse and worse.”

Dudley said he wants to enjoy his vacation and take a break from the responsibility of a job.

“I’m not working because I have a job this year, and I don’t want to go on vacation to another job,” he said. “It’s kind of against the point of a vacation to have to work.”