Inspiring others through music Instructor motivates students to strive for a blissful life

MARIA TRINIDAD Reporter @Maria_roundup

Often, one may find themselves losing faith when tough times call, but kinesiology and health instructor, Diane Kelly, aspires to create a change in that through her speeches and music.

Kelly writes and composes music of self-love, self-meaning, and much more.

“Self-love with humility brings grace to the soul, honor to all of life, and peace to the path of least resistance,” Kelly said.

Kelly has been at Pierce for almost 11 years, but she has been an educator for quite some time. She enjoys working at a college because she prefers the amount of responsibility that it takes.

“College is more for me; that’s where I fit in,” Kelly said.

Kelly is an instructor, singer, speaker, author, and a guitarist who wishes to inspire young adults.

“I learn a lot from my students. I really admire the journey that students are on and it is just great to be a part of their life,” Kelly said.

Kelly enjoys singing at family gatherings, and she is also the only member in her family that plays an instrument.

She began playing the guitar at 27, but before that she only sang. She has been performing at concerts, singing, and writing for more than 15 years.

“I took some singing lessons, but I taught myself guitar. It just takes a lot of practice,” Kelly said.

Kelly has been writing books since 2011. Her first book was based on her poem called “Reflections of a Visionary Path.”

“I put that together after I went through a hard time in life,” Kelly said. “I’ve always been writing poetry so that was my first thing. I just put together a bunch of my best poetry, or at least what I thought, and I was just motivated to write a book.”

Kelly’s second book, “What’s Up Within,” is about self-knowledge and how to find meaning and purpose.

She is currently working on her newest book, “You Don’t Need Permission To Be Yourself,” that will be published by November of this year. Her main focus is to attract young readers and to remind them to be themselves.

“In our society there is so much pressure on kids [to focus on] a ‘to do list’, but there is not a ‘to be list’,” Kelly said. “That’s why we need to