Pasco-Hernando State College Volume XIV, Issue I Spring 2020 | Page 20

STUDENT
PROFILE
P
MOTIVATED BY MUSIC
HSC student Kira Taylor is a 19-year-old singer, songwriter
and performer, and yet there is so much more to this
determined and ambitious young woman. She is also a
Free2Luv youth advocate, a Kindness U activist, a No Bull and
BUHero ambassador, and a YouTuber. Kira began singing in her
school choir at a young age and started performing at 12 years
old.
In just a few years, she has performed at the Back to School
Bash at The Shops at Wiregrass, the second annual No Bull
Music Showcase in Ohio, the Florida Strawberry Festival
in 2015, and the Child Model Magazine Summer Fashion
Parade of 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to singing and
performing, she has received numerous awards, including
community service awards and one for being a talent search
winner.
Behind the scenes, Kira also has a lot going on. She is a
member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and
attends PHSC part time, where she is involved in campus
activities. Before the start of fall classes, she attended the
annual Student Life Retreat, a two-day event that provides
students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and
connect with leaders from PHSC and the community.
With so many great things going on in her
life, she still admits to having good days
and bad days. Kira has Cystic Fibrosis,
a chronic, genetic disease limiting
the ability to breathe and causing
persistent lung infections. But, she
does not let it get her down or
stop her from pursuing
her passions.
18
PHSC
She has aspirations of producing an extended play (EP) musical
recording of five songs reflecting on life events and shaping her
into the person she is today. Using music as therapy, she is able
to get through the good and bad days. “No matter if you have
an illness, disease, disability, or just a bad day you shouldn’t let
that stop you from reaching your dreams,” said Kira.
Living with Cystic Fibrosis, Kira’s daily life is different from most
people. “My day consists of hours of medicines and therapy,
including: bronchodilators and antibiotics, chest physical
therapy, pancreatic enzyme with meals, glucose testing,
prebiotics, and sinus rinses,” said Kira. Her chest physical
therapy involves wearing a Monarch Airway Clearance Vest,
which generates targeted kinetic energy to clear airways and
increase airflow. Although she thinks it makes her look like a
‘Transformer,’ the vest offers the ability to be mobile and flexible
while simultaneously receiving treatment.
When she is not receiving Cystic Fibrosis treatments, singing,
performing or attending classes at PHSC, Kira enjoys being a
normal teenager—spending time with family, shopping, and
hanging out with friends. Keep an eye out for the musical album
of this anything-but-normal and truly unique teen as she has big
projects on the horizon. “My hope for this album is to engage
the audience in relatable subjects,” said Kira. “I want people to
be able to take away my mission of inspiring others and how
important it is to believe in yourself.”
Follow Kira and her musical career:
instagram.com/KiraTaylorSings
twitter.com/KiraTaylorSings
facebook.com/KiraTaylorSings
youtube.com/user/KiraTaylorMusic