Here it is: my final column for The Mentor and I have no clue what to write about.

My high school experience was pretty terrible, but I won’t go too much into that because I’m not going to waste 700-some words just to go through my life story. Let’s just stick to people are sexual and violent animals and they motivated me to graduate high school as soon as possible (aka junior year).

Anyway, I guess I’ll focus on three main ideas: human nature, dedication and progress. Human nature hosts many aspects from controlling to loving.

One such aspect that is ever present in people, especially us as adolescents, is the despotic attitude we host toward others. In short, we like to reign over and destroy anyone we look down upon or view as a threat. This nature has been drilled into all of our brains since birth as something that needs to be obliterated. You know, “don’t punch her” or “don’t call him fat” or whatever else people think they need to say to brainwash anyone under 18 into finding shame in themselves.

The fact is, everyone has a moment of appalling nature — including myself — that turns us into a complete recreant. Whether we lack respect and empathy, physically abuse our peers or gossip about whatever, it’s impossible not to show the ugliness that is really there in us. Still, simply because it is human nature to destroy everyone we know, does not excuse taking part in such actions. We all have this nice little thing called self control and all of us should start using it to help both ourselves and others.

But all of us have dedication within our human nature. Whether it’s to academics, sports or relationships, we all aspire to succeed in something. These allegiances can only go so far though, and to truly succeed in high school, and life, we need to organize and distribute our devotedness to all aspects of our lives. If we only enhance our efforts in one area we will ultimately fail.

I’m going to use myself as an example because I know there are others who feel the same way. Dedication was, and is, hard. These past three years of high school have been, quite literally, a hell on earth. After contemplating ending my life due to issues with my peers, I came to a realization: why should I throw away my life when I can try to leave as soon as possible?

We all know that a lot of the time school officials can’t, or won’t, take care of the issues at hand. “Kids will be kids,” right? Anyway, it was my dedication that has helped me succeed this much, and although it has been highly demanding, I have been able to achieve a level of happiness with my prosperity and greatly suggest taking those risks that accompany devotion. Although a lot of success stems from our own perseverance, no one can go about life and achievement without progress and support.

Through our years here in MHS, we all have grown and progressed into individuals different from how we started. We discover and develop our personalities, find our passions and our breaking points. Despite the identity crises, mental breakdowns and pointless drama that we all probably go through in these four years; we create bonds and improvements in our lives that no one younger can. I mean, we’ve all made some great friends who have helped us through so much, and not to mention a few teachers who always know how to make the day seem brighter and help lead you onto the right track.

Despite hardships and atrocious people, just finding the good things and letting them push you and help you toward success is all that can help us.

In the end, my final words of wisdom are that yes, high school is relatively terrible and so are the people, but to make this experience worth going through and a better memory, just do three things. One, find the people that brighten your lives, whether friends, family or teachers. Two, apply yourself to activities you wouldn’t always put effort into. And three, don’t let the actions of others drive you to give up.

Prove everyone wrong and fight through the obstacles that are ever present in high school and life.