West Muskingum senior Jon Kelty is headed to CCAD in Columbus after arduous journey

Editor's Note: The Times Recorder is profiling seniors from area high schools in Muskingum County coinciding with graduations. They were nominated by school administrators.

Jon Kelty, 18, was headed down the wrong path.“I used to get bad grades and not have the right mindset to be in school,” said Kelty, who will graduate from West Muskingum High School on May 24. “I thought it was a waste of my time. Panic attacks were pushing me back. I didn’t think I had any specialties,” he said.Kelty lived in foster care until he was adopted by Daniel and Rowan Kelty when he was 4. During middle school in a different district, he said was endlessly bullied because of it.“The kids would tease me that I was adopted by two gay dads,” said Kelty. “I took (offense) to that because I didn’t see anything wrong with it.”

Then Kelty transferred to West Muskingum High School his freshman year and things started to change, said Guidance Counselor May Sheck.“I remember taking (Jon) around during freshman orientation and he was very timid, very shy, kind of closed off — he seemed not confident in himself,” she said. “I helped him later that year and sophomore year with a couple panic attacks, and the other counselor did as well. It was tough at first.”But then, Kelty said, something just shifted inside of him.“My dads have always been so supportive of me, and one day I just realized I shouldn’t take them for granted and I should start listening to them more,” he said. “Whenever they’d say I was special, I took it and threw it away; then one day I just snapped and thought ‘I want to focus.’“They’ve been there for me my whole life and I want to make them happy.”Kelty credits medication with the start of his turn around, saying it helped clear his mind.“Medication has helped me become a better student. I’ve been focusing more on school,” he said. “It also gave me a boost of confidence. I still do have my days, but it’s much better.”Kelty said other activities help ease his anxiety as well such as listening to rock music, playing Overwatch 2, or chilling with his two cats, Bones and Salem.“I love my cats,” he said. “Talking to supportive friends and family helps, too.”Sheck said his friend group has been key to his turn around.“I think his choice in friends gave him confidence; he feels he can be himself,” she said. “Even just getting accepted to college was just such a confidence boost. People believing in him after he believed in himself was huge.”Kelty was accepted to the Columbus College of Art and Design for the Game Art & Design program. He’ll start the program this fall.“Once I got serious about school, I found out I liked and enjoyed making games,” said Kelty. “That’s what I’m going into college for, to make game art.”Kelty said his teachers and guidance counselors have been critical to his school success.“I feel very loved here,” he said. “One time I was crying in class (because of a panic attack) and my teacher was so helpful. That wasn’t something I was used to because I’d always beat myself up. But not here. This school has been very loving.”It’s a vibe Sheck and her co-counselor have tried to instill with all students at West Muskingum.“(We) try to make every kid feel like we’re excited to see them every day. We go out of our way to say hello and check in with students who we know have a lot of panic attacks or a history of not loving school,” she said. “We say ‘You’re a person first, and that’s what is most important.’ And then that gets kids to care about themselves, and then they can care about school.”She said supportive parents also help kids manage the rigors of social and academic pressures during high school.“It is the biggest factor in kids’ success at school,” said Sheck. “If their home life is not where it needs to be, their school life suffers and their social life suffers.”She said that lucky for Kelty, his dads have struck the right chord supporting him.“They’re very big on giving Jon independence and skills to cope and get through the day himself,” she said, while also giving him the emotional support and skills he needs. “I’m very excited for Jon. His persona is totally different from his freshman year to his senior year.”She said she believes Jon will be wonderful at game design.“Once he got into art you could see he had a passion for coming to school,” she said. “He’s really overcome, and you can see the confidence. He’s worked hard to improve his academic skills. I’m very proud of him.”And Kelty is proud of himself, even though he has a touch of regret.“I wish I’d listened to my dads sooner. It kind of hurts me a little bit I didn’t and didn’t care what they had to say,” he said. “But now I feel amazing, and I can achieve what I need to achieve. It’s a been a very long path for me.”And after college?“I’d love to work for a game studio like Epic games or battle.net,” he said. “As of now, going into college, I’m nervous, a little bit shaky, but I have a feeling I’ll be okay. I know I’ll be okay.”