Michael Bush liked reading the epic poem "Beowulf," but his favorite part of his advance placement English class at Rio Mesa High School was the chance to read theatrical works.

Walking out of class for lunch in the quad just before graduation, Bush — wearing big mirrored sunglasses, a black T-shirt, jeans and a Strawberry Shortcake temporary tattoo on his neck — said it's all about theater and dance for him.

"Wherever I end up being stationed I just hope there's a good dance studio nearby," he said. "Dancing has prepared me for the Army by giving me the physical fitness background and (making me) quick on my feet."

Just after enlisting, Bush got the part of Mr. MacAfee in the school Drama Club's version of "Bye Bye Birdie."

Toward the end of this summer, the 18-year-old from Oxnard will head for basic training and a six-year enlistment in the Army.

He sees the choice as a way to get training to build computer networks — that's the job he's going for at least — as well as to travel.

He felt his options for attending school were limited because of money. Although he works as a model and greeter at the Hollister Clothing Company, he doesn't think that even by penny-pinching could he earn the kind of money he's going to get by serving in the Army. He's qualified for a $13,800 enlistment bonus.

Beyond all that, the former Boy Scout also gets a chance to serve his country.

"That's important to me," he said.

His decision was a surprise to his parents and came after a chance encounter with a recruiter at the mall when he was 17, he said.

The response from his friends and teachers has been mixed.

"You know some people say, Oh yeah, that's great,' or I've got the other extreme (of people saying) No, no you shouldn't do it,' " Bush said.

His English teacher, Mia Chancer, was caught off guard.

"I was surprised," Chancer said one morning after Bush and the rest of the class had finished an Advanced Placement Test that will help them skip introductory college English classes.

In her mind, Bush was the kind of guy who embraced the theatrical as opposed to the martial.

Some of his friends said much the same thing.

"Yeah, it's odd he's the only one (in the graduating class) enlisting," said Max Bunker, an 18-year-old headed to UC San Diego. "He's a strong character, but I never saw him as an Army kind of guy."

The clutch of friends, many of them girls he hung out with at lunch, worried about him. Some even expressed dismay in his choice, but they said they supported him.

Meghan Pesta, 18, didn't see the point in questioning his decision now.

"It's done. He's going. He has to do what he has to do," she said with a hint of disappointment.

Bush has stopped trying too hard to explain it.

"Nobody made this decision for me," he said. "It's my decision."

He supports the war in Iraq, he continued, because "we helped them get rid of a dictator and we're trying to make things better."