For adults, high school is as near or far as the next or last reunion. But for thousands of teens, high school is a present hell of isolation, confusion and negativity, says novelist Ryan D. Pearson.

"Think about the young men who live in infamy because they somehow couldn't channel their energy in a positive manner - Adam Lanza in Connecticut; James Holmes, the 'movie-theater shooter;' the two Columbine shooters; Jared Loughner, who shot U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords - some were extremely intelligent, and they were passionate, too," says Pearson.

Precocious in high school, Pearson earned his law degree at age 21 and went on to write "The Element Series," (www.theelementsseries.com), which follows a teenager blessed with wealth and fame who discovers he has the added responsibility of super powers.

"One aspect I love about comic books and fiction is that the character arcs show how some become the villains, and those who stand by their values - the heroes."

Teens, who have experienced life only as children, suddenly find themselves in very adult circumstances in high school - that last step toward adulthood, he says. For many gifted, talented, sensitive or otherwise misunderstood teens, he offers tips for surviving this last step toward independence:

• Embrace what makes you different: Perhaps the most important struggle a teenager faces is self-acceptance. Many may believe that that straight-A, all-star jock with a perfect complexion has it made. Meanwhile, he may be experiencing his own inner turmoil. If you care about things no one else seems to care about; if you're better at chess than football; if you think you don't fit the mold of "pretty" or "handsome" - you might just be on the path to happiness. A great example receiving plenty of attention is the It Gets Better project, which encourages gay teens to embrace their sexuality. However, the concept can be applied to anyone who feels like an outsider. "There is only one you; don't be afraid of who you are," Pearson says.

• Perhaps the greatest commencement address: While life is just beginning after high school and college, it's rarely easy - that's the thrust of George Foster Wallace's 2005 speech to the graduates of Kenyon College. Wallace, a giant of contemporary literature, touches on some of the most important adult challenges: the potential loneliness of adult life, the importance of being well-adjusted and the difficulty of empathy - "Think about it: There is no experience you've had that you were not at the absolute center of." Truthful, unflinching and humorous, the speech has since resonated online.

• You can change!: A depressing mindset for unhappy high school students involves the idea that nothing about one's experience will change. "Everything changes - this is the one rule of life you can count on," says Pearson, whose went on a worldwide adventure after college. "Teens who go the villainous route often have an attitude that nothing about them or the world is going to be different unless they intervene with extreme behavior." In reality, one or two key shifts in thinking can change the course in a young person's life trajectory. Friends, parents and educators have the best access for helping a troubled teen to "see the light."

About Ryan D. Pearson

After completing a Bachelor of Laws degree at age 21, Ryan D. Pearson took a leap of faith by leaving the beautiful beaches of Australia to travel the world. He eventually landed in Montreal, where he lived for several years before returning home to write about his adventures. He overcame many challenging personal experiences and now embraces an audacious new lifestyle. Pearson writes about his own character arc - involving a supernatural and overzealous way of life - via character Reagan Jameson.

The Buffalo Bill Museum's Building Addition Kickoff Fundraiser Dinner wil be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at the Crane & Pelican Cafe.

5:00pm - 6:00pm:  Social Hour (Appetizers and cash bar)

6:15pm:  Dinner Served (choose from Cody Road Bourbon Chicken, Sawyer Farms Roast Beef, or Sabina Dawley's Spring Quiche

Desserts by 12th Street Sweets, Davenport

$35 per person in advance; $40 per person at the door.

Limited Seating - Will Sell Out Early - Don't Wait

For tickets, send payment NLT March 30th with dinner choice to the Buffalo Bill Museum, Box 284, LeClaire IA 52753 or call the museum at 563-289-5580.

Captain and Sabina Dawley built the Dawley House (now known at the Crane & Pelican Cafe) in 1851.  They raised nine children in the house.  The Captain and Sabina will be joined by two of their daughters and other LeClaire residents when they welcome you to their home on April 3rd.

(DES MOINES) - Governor Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds today highlighted the work progress of the seven-foot statue of Dr. Norman Borlaug being created by artist, Benjamin Victor, and announced the funding for the statue which will eventually be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

"Today, March 25th, would have been Dr. Borlaug's 99th birthday and his development of miracle wheat saved an estimated billion people around the world from hunger and starvation," Gov. Branstad said. "With the generous support of DuPont Pioneer and an anonymous individual, his statue will stand in honor representing Iowa in the U.S. Capitol building."

"With the creation of the Dr. Borlaug statue, we are seeing history in the making," Lt. Gov. Reynolds said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I would like to thank the artist, Benjamin Victor, for sharing his tremendous talent with us to be enjoyed by the future visitors to the U.S. Capitol."

"Dr. Borlaug was not only one of Iowa's great innovators, but also one of the state's greatest humanitarians," said Paul E. Schickler, president of DuPont Pioneer. "It is my hope that the statue's placement in the U.S. Capitol will inspire future generations to be a part of solving this extraordinary challenge of feeding the world."

The Borlaug Statue Committee Chairman, Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, praised members of the Iowa legislature and Iowa's Congressional Delegation, of which Congressman Steve King and Congressman Tom Latham were in attendance, for their bi-partisan support of the Dr. Borlaug statue, noting they have been instrumental in facilitating communications with the Architect of the Capitol's office, which oversees the statues on display in the U.S. Capitol.

The Borlaug Statue Committee, who selected the artist and organized fundraising efforts for this project, has the goal of installing the statue of Dr. Borlaug in the U.S. Capitol building on March 25, 2014, the centennial observance of Dr. Borlaug's birth. It will be one of two statues depicting notable citizens from Iowa. The Dr. Borlaug statue will replace the statue of U.S. Senator James Harlan, which will be returned to Iowa. The second statue representing Iowa is of Governor Samuel Kirkwood.

Benjamin Victor is currently conducting an artist-in-residency at the State Historical Museum of Iowa, 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines. The public is invited to visit with Victor as he works on the sculpture 10 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m. through Thursday.