Kirk, 52, grew up in Brooklyn and Queens and spent his early years in foster care with his brother and sister before being adopted at age nine. He later reunited with two older brothers in his thirties, though both birth parents had already passed away. School was turbulent—he cycled through four high schools in four years and eventually dropped out, though he tested high enough for a diploma through his GED. He describes his mind as “too fast,” restless, and impatient with conventional learning.
He admits he struggles with relationships and often isolates himself, but he tries to keep patience and avoid letting anger cost him survival. His greatest anchor is his 10-year-old daughter, whom he hasn’t seen since she was two but who knows him as her father. He says she saved his life, and his biggest hope is to rebuild enough stability to be present for her. Despite hardship, he holds onto one principle: that “it’s all about one love,” believing people truly need each other to survive.
