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Triad Student Stays Inside And Prays During Walkout

CLEMMONS, N.C. -- While hundreds of students across the Piedmont Triad walked out of class during Wednesday's nationwide walkout, Connor Groce had his own way of taking a stand by staying in his seat.

CLEMMONS, N.C. -- While hundreds of students across the Piedmont Triad walked out of class during Wednesday's nationwide walkout, Connor Groce had his own way of taking a stand by staying in his seat.

"I just spent the moment in prayer and in reflection," the West Forsyth senior explains. "Obviously, for the families of the victims in Florida and the horrific tragedy down there but for our nation as a whole because I think we live in a very fragile time."

At his school, he says some students opted to walk out in remembrance of the 17 students and staff members killed in a school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month. Others walked out to call for stricter gun legislation. Others chose to stay in class. The choice was their own and Groce made a point to stay inside to pray.

"I support the rights of every student to be entitled to their own opinion and the expression of that opinion," Groce explains. "What id like to see is a little bit more holistic and fair acceptance of those opinions."

Groce believes the problem with mass shootings does not lie in the weapons, but the people who are using them.

"I think it's with the ideology that prompts someone to commit an act like that. It's not necessarily the tools in which they do it."

But he does say it's a problem that needs to be dealt with. He's hoping it can be solved with a less divisive approach.

"Hopefully we can find a solution that we can get behind while honoring our constitution and honoring the safety of our students."

But when it comes to Wednesday's walkout, the nationwide demonstration spanned beyond the political spectrum. It was a way for students to exercise their rights and to support and learn from one another, no matter background or belief.

"What I'd like to see, is let's take the same acceptance that we showed students who believe this way and let's show that to students who believe every way."

Groce says he didn't receive any pushback for staying in class and he was glad to see others respectfully sticking to their own decisions. It's estimated about 3,000 schools across the country had students walk out of class.

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