Kirk Latimer

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A broad-faced Latino with a bigger heart than fist, Gabriel Giron capitalizes on the scars of a difficult and angry past. After lazily making his way through high school, Gabriel felt oddly drawn to the military, seeking to secure an education and a bit of discipline. Eight months into his enlistment, he was diagnosed with stage 3B testicular cancer. He underwent heavy cycles of chemotherapy and several surgeries, spending three years in treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He is now deemed cancer free. The days spent wondering whether he would live or die gave him a newfound perspective on life.

Currently a student of film and creative writing at Western Michigan University, Gabriel sees everything in life as an opportunity for self-discovery. Though he never intended to share his past experiences and poetry with anyone, Gabriel discovered that his words connected powerfully with other people and became a way for him to cope and learn from his own experiences. He found that sharing his stories enabled others to explore and learn from their own.

After being named class bully and class poet in high school, Gabriel realized he was battling two sides of himself, uncertain of who he was or what he wanted from his life. His reflection on cancer survival, military experience, and family relationships has enabled him to write on topics with unique vulnerability not commonly explored or spoken by others. Gabriel has discovered that by simply sharing his stories and speaking the truth he sees around him, others are inspired to share their own stories, making poetry real, honest, and accessible regardless of age, class or gender.