Can't erase hard drive on macbook pro

I've used up all the space on my Macbook Pro and I want to clean it all off, as I do art and college work on it. I have saved the files on USB sticks and I can install the applications and programs I need back off the internet. However, when I look through the internet, they say that I should go to Disk Utility and select the hard drive and click erase. I have done this, but it doesn't give me the option. The button to click is dull and is not highlighted, not allowing me to erase it. I am also worried about getting back on, because some people claim that they have to reinstall OS with a CD, and mine never came with one as I got this laptop in late August 2013. I don't know how to erase it, as I've had this for nearly a year and I haven't erased it once. Please help, as I need to erase it ASAP!

If you got it new in August 2013, there aren’t any disks. Restart it with the Command and R keys held down instead.
Regardless of what model it is, you’ll need to restart from an alternate system, such as a DVD or the recovery partition, before you’ll be able to erase the partition containing the primary one.
(108993)

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