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 4/22/26

 

Former MCCC women’s soccer All-American and MCCC Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Diana Rose Kelly visited Mercer on April 10^th to talk to students about a book she recently wrote and published and shared valuable lessons she learned from playing soccer.

 

Kelly began by sharing how important her coach Bill Drake was in getting her to believe in herself which she carried with her not just during her playing days but throughout her life.  Kelly discussed how success is about people.  “Belief gives you wings and that’s what Coach Drake gave me.”

 

Kelly also talked about leading by example so that others can follow.  Kelly recalled how some players used to tell her to lead a running drill but go slow so they could all keep up.  This Kelly explained is not how you get better.  “Your job is to lead by integrity and honor.  It’s gift when you are good.” 

 

Her book entitled There is no Goalie is about how she learned to focus on just her play and not worry about the goalie.  She had to control what she could and not worry about the goalie.  Some words of wisdom Kelly shared were to not focus on your obstacles (like the goalie who tries to prevent goals) toward your goals.  By doing this, “your focus becomes your reality.”

 

Kelly also discussed the importance of being coachable and humble.  “Ask your coach how you can get better.  You can always do things better and don’t be so big that you don’t want to learn and improve.”

 

Kelly ended her talk by telling the attendees to “follow your heart.  Do what is calling you and use that to inspire people.”  Kelly is a musician who used her love of music as a way to inspire others which also lead her to write her book.

 

Kelly’s talk was inspiring to all those who attended and it was great for current students to hear from a alum who wanted to stop back to share her story.  Kelly is currently living in Georgia but was visiting the Northeast and wanted to stop at Mercer while in the area.  “Mercer always holds a special place in my heart.  It’s where I got started and learned to believe in myself and I will never forget that.”

 

We are grateful Kelly stopped back to inspire our students and that Mercer still holds a special place in her heart.

 

For more on Kelly and MCCC Athletic Hall of Fame inductees: /athletics_hof.shtml