PERRY HALL, Md. (WJZ)–A violent start to the school year in Perry Hall after a student opens fire in the cafeteria.

Derek Valcourt has more on how the students are coping the day after the shooting.

Several hundred students and parents gathered around the flagpole at Perry Hall High School before the start of morning classes for a student-organized prayer vigil in honor of the victim, 17-year-old Daniel Borowy.

Link: 15-Year-Old Student Charged As Adult In Perry Hall HS Shooting

“I would rather it happened to me than him,” said Kayla Finn.

“I’m praying for him and his family and hoping that he can recover soon and be back to the Daniel that I know he can be,” said Kirsten Elasser.

Some student wore T-shirts in honor of the guidance counselor credited with stopping the gunman.

Link: Guidance Counselor Lauded As A Hero

But the return to school was uneasy for many.

“Pretty freaked out,” said Jason Schenning.

Only a few chose to stay home. Others decided to push on despite the tragedy.

“I think it’s scary, but you have to like face it. We have to go back sometime,” said Tiffany Bratkowski.

View Slideshow: 1 Student Shot At Perry Hall High School

“We are going to have to pick right back up where we left off, and it’s a tragedy and it’s a sad thing that something like this has to happen for all of us to come together, but you gotta do what you gotta do,” said Chris Everest, senior.

There’s a strong police presence on hand to add a sense of security to the rattled campus.

In classes it’s been business as usual.

“So as quickly as possible, and we feel we were successful, got all the students back into their normal routine,” said George Roberts, principal.

“There’s a lot of hurting kids today and they need somebody to talk to,” said Troy.

With that sentiment in mind, two school crisis teams provided grief counseling to the kids who need it.

“It’s going to be tough but healing’s going to happen, and God’s here and it’s going to work out. Perry Hall’s going to come out a better place, and a lot of better people are going to emerge from this,” said Jane Shipley.

A community meeting is scheduled for next week.