Graduate grateful for support network

Editor's note: If you or anyone you know is experiencing ideas of self-harm, please call the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988 or dial 911. MILAN TWP. — This past school year, as a senior, Nathan Dolsen challenged himself to assist others, constantly placing the needs of community members above his own. "I really tried to put myself out there more and do things to help people," said Nathan, a 2025 Edison High School graduate. He explained why. "For me, I really wanted to impact people's lives for the better," said Nathan, who lives in Norwalk with his mom, Mary, and his older brother, Gabe. "That is what life is about: It's about helping other people. I enjoy it not for the satisfaction it brings me but seeing others happy." While juggling his studies and making several honor rolls, Nathan spent many hours volunteering in and out of school. For starters, he participated in the district's Teen Leadership Corps class. This class, through service projects, empowers teenagers to achieve their leadership potential through a character- and service-based curriculum. Just this past year, Nathan and his classmates supported initiatives centered on assisting youth literacy efforts, senior citizens, underprivileged residents, cancer patients and area families dealing with illnesses. And he signed up to assist the Berlin Heights Kiwanis Club, even taking part in the organization's speech and debate team while volunteering during club dinners and signing up for many other community-based programs. "It was quite an experience," said Nathan, who qualified, as a club member, for a statewide speech and debate competition. "It was a great experience." For those who know his personal history, many marvel at Nathan's productive evolution. This would include his favorite teacher at Edison, Chris Ceccoli. "Nathan is a smart, young man who learns quickly. But I think what separates him from others is his work ethic," said Ceccoli, who teaches English. "He gets knocked down but keeps moving forward. It's inspiring to see that kind of resiliency, especially in a young person. I have no doubt that Nathan is going to do great things." Sudden loss Shortly after his commencement ceremony, which occurred on June 1, Nathan reflected upon on his personal journey, focusing on a time frame when he lost a foundational figure. In 2015, while in the third grade, Nathan's parents began the process of going through a divorce. His dad, Jeff, stayed in a Cleveland suburb. Nathan, Gabe and Mary, meanwhile, moved to the Milan area. "I would see him every once in a while, but it was inconsistent," Nathan said. "But I stayed in contact online, texting on whatever platform — and then the visits stopped. I didn't see my dad for a long time." Then, in September 2019, a life-altering moment for Nathan occurred. "I received news that he committed suicide, and it was out of nowhere," Nathan said. "Being a seventh-grader, I had never experienced suicide before. It was new and shocking, and it did impact me. Even though I didn't live with my father, still not having a father at all is completely devastating." Nathan's life tailspinned, going into a state of depression and battling various other mental illnesses. "I stopped going to school. I stopped trying," Nathan said. Throughout middle school and the first two years of high school, Nathan's illness not only made him miss chunks of class time but also kept him away from extracurriculars. "Those four years (seventh grade through 10th grade), I threw it away," Nathan said. "I hadn't been trying in school. I stopped doing things in life." Though upon entering his junior year, on the doorstep of adulthood, Nathan realized a sudden and drastic change needed to occur. Turning to others To crawl out of his personal pit of despair, Nathan leaned on his support network, willing to guide a grief-stricken child. "They really helped me, talking to me and pushing me," Nathan said. "I pulled my bootstraps up and got my life together." First and foremost, he heaped heavy praise on Mary and Gabe. He trusted what they told him, knowing they had the best interests of the youngest Dolsen. "My mom would tell me the hard things I needed to hear, and I understood, even then, she was doing it out of love," Nathan said. "And my brother, who's two years older than me, introduced me to a lot of new things, such as lifting — which I still do and love to this day — and fishing and just being there to talk to me and be my buddy." Nathan also lauded longtime Edison teacher Pam Scott, who just retired. "One day, she took me out into the hallway because I was failing a class. It was the beginning of my eighth-grade year. She told me I was on track to be the first person to fail that class, which was honors algebra. She told me I needed to get my act together and figure things out. I ended up doing really well in that class, as she pushed me to care about it." Nathan then extended his appreciation to Ceccoli. "He taught me how to lead by example," said Nathan, who called Ceccoli a role model, viewing him as a father figure he desperately sought in these formidable years. "My father wasn't in my life a lot, but Mr. Ceccoli was," Nathan added. "Having a positive male influence in my life and looking up to someone who makes a great impact on you and wants you to achieve great things helped me so much. Mr. Ceccoli helped me become a man because he was there for me." Additionally, Nathan expressed sincere gratitude toward Mike Amstutz, club president for Berlin Heights Kiwanis Club, for instilling confidence in him, which opened up new opportunities, including through speech and debate. "Mr. Amstutz taught me a lot about charisma and how you present yourself and what you do in your spare time," Nathan said. "Public speaking is nerve-wracking, but it made me learn the value of community service, and I got to meet new friends, thanks to Mr. Amstutz. He's involved in the community so much and showed me how to live your life." Nathan also thanked his many friends at school who never gave up on their bond. "That meant a lot to me," said Nathan, who noted how they encouraged him to attend activities and events with them. This would include Edison's 2024 football win over Perkins, which represents his favorite high school memory. Because of their collective commitment to Nathan, he remained a constant fixture at school these past two years, helping not only himself but others: friends, community members and seemingly everyone he would encounter. Nathan intends to continue his civic-mindedness in college. He's enrolled at the University of Toledo where he'll study mechanical engineering with possible aspirations to enter the aerospace industry. Many look forward to seeing what he accomplishes at the next level. "I know he will be a huge positive contributor to our society in every aspect," Amstutz said. "His talents amaze me. He is kind, helpful, a great role model for my underclassmen, a true class act. His leadership and his tenacity have proven invaluable to our team this year." 'It just takes time' To this day, Nathan holds onto a concealed suicide note his father left behind. "I still haven't read it," Nathan said. "Even though my dad's suicide ended up motivating me in life, I still don't view it as a positive. It did help me grow and learn as a person and just look at life in a different way. All I could do was move on and work with whatever I had." Nathan then offered some advice for anyone who's going through a similar situation with suicide. "It just takes time, and that is the biggest thing: time to cope with something so tough," he said. "But no amount of time will let you completely heal from something like that. If you are impacted by suicide, just learn to be a better person and be there for the people in your life who are still there." It's a mature response from someone who just became an adult, according to Mary. "He definitely turned himself around," Mary said. "It was a bad situation, and he could have fully given up, but, like he said, he pulled his bootstraps up and totally did a 180. I'm very proud of him."