In State v. Rannels, 333 N.C. 644, 430 S.E.2d 254 (1993), the district attorney asked whether any members of the jury pool had personal or business engagements that would detract their attention from the case. Rannels, 333 N.C. at 656, 430 S.E.2d at 260. When one prospective juror expressed that his plans to attend nursing school would be "in the back of his mind," the trial court stated: "Well, you are going to sit here through the trial of the case, but I'm not going to require you to sit on this case. So when the other jurors are excused, you are to remain in the courtroom.... I want you to sit on the front row, sir, so you can hear what's going on." Rannels, 333 N.C. at 656, 430 S.E.2d at 260-61. Although the defendant argued that the trial court's actions "chilled" the honest responses of other panel members, the Rannels court determined that nothing in the record substantiated the defendant's contention. Rannels, 333 N.C. at 656, 430 S.E.2d at 261. Rather, the Rannels court reasoned, "It could just as well be argued that the court's reaction to the juror's response reinforced among the other prospective jurors the need to be forthright and honest in their answers." Rannels, 333 N.C. at 656, 430 S.E.2d at 261. Ultimately, the Rannels court rejected the defendant's position because it relied on speculation. Rannels, 333 N.C. at 656, 430 S.E.2d at 261.