In the shadow of tragedy, compassion brings light

In the wake of Matthew Mezza's death, The Samohi editorial board reflects on the importance of unity, compassion and empathy as we deal with the difficulties of adolescence.The transition to young adulthood has never been easy. It is an undeniably self-indulgent time in our lives; a time when we are wrapped up in shaping our bodies, our futures and our self-image. We are constantly overwhelmed by the conflict between striving to be different and needing to fit in.But often, this struggle blinds us to the reality that we are all part of the same human experience. We are human enough to trip down the stairs on our way to the Business Building, to brag when the ball is in our court or to give up when the pain is too much. We all bleed, we all laugh and we all cry. Things hurt us all the same.In high school, we go through this struggle together, and must recognize our place as part of a larger community filled with people dealing with similar problems. No matter how hard we may try to isolate ourselves in the pool of 3000-odd students, there is someone out there that can empathize as we walk down the road of adolescent insecurity and introspection.It is this feeling of community that is most important in times of tragedy. We are part of an organism, and though each cell is an individual unit, it is through cooperation and interdependence that we form something stronger than the sum of our parts.Organisms specialize in self-healing: just as cells work together to heal a damaged area, we too can work together to overcome tragedy through compassion and understanding. And though coping with sorrow is never easy, a little bit of altruism goes a long way towards refilling the gap left by what we have lost.You are not alone. Though we may assume that there is no one out there who understands, by opening our eyes and mind, we can find a community of friends willing to lend a hand or a kind word.You are not alone. Though we may indulge in our own problems and worries, by opening our hearts, we can help create a strong and supportive community.The high school experience is a cruel one; let's make it easier for each other.