DRAPER Utah (ABC 4 News) - A mass school killing is rekindling emotions at Juan Diego High School
School officials say the school year has been exceptionally difficult.
"It's been a tough year for everyone," says Chris Williamson who is a senior at JDHS.
The death of a fellow student and another lying in a coma was already weighing heavy on the students.
"The feel for academics right now is very apathetic," says Riley Rose, another senior at JDHS. "It just turned into an overload."\
And on Friday, word spread through the halls about 20 school children dead.
"It makes people more aware and makes you think a little more about being grateful of being here," says Williamson.
The Connecticut shooting again brought back memories of their own school lock down a few years ago. Back then, someone was spotted outside with a handgun.
"I was crammed in the high school with older kids i didn't know what was going on," recalls Rose. "I was scared and didn't know what was going on."
It turned out to be a pellet gun.
"Just knowing it isn't a drill, we've done drills and been prepared but when it happens it's an interesting feeling," says Williamson. "It's a scary feeling."
These two students say their school is safe and many safety measures help give them that confidence.
Intruder drills at JDHS are as common as reading and writing.
It's part of the school's plan to keep students safe.
"After this, knowing what happened in Connecticut, students will take these drills more seriously," says Rose.
