I remember nervously typing out my first message to him: "Hey, this is Brilyn! Thank you, Mr. Kirk!!!" His response came quickly: "Pls call me Charlie haha." That was Charlie in a nutshell — humble, approachable and encouraging. Over the years, he became not just a figure I looked up to, but a mentor and, eventually, a friend. He poured into me the kind of words every young person needs to hear: "You are terrific! Keep the hustle and the focus. You are going places."