It all began on a fateful day in September 2014 in sunny Santa Barbara. Though our initial meeting didn't immediately spark a relationship, it planted a seed that Martin couldn't stop thinking about. For over a year, that seed quietly grew until a chance encounter in late 2015 changed everything. It was then that Martin realized he could no longer hide his feelings for Aleesha. A heartfelt confession followed in December, and the rest, as they say, is history. We met as sophomores in college but didn't officially become a couple until our junior year at UC Santa Barbara. Over the years, our relationship has faced many challenges that have tested who we are both as individuals and as a couple. Yet through it all, our love has only continued to evolve and grow. We've weathered two periods of long distance: first when Aleesha was studying abroad, and later after college when we returned to our respective hometowns (Martin to San Diego and Aleesha to Los Angeles). These separations only strengthened our commitment to building a life together. A shared innate curiosity and love of exploration has taken us on countless adventures: tasting cuisines from all over the world, seeking new experiences in the rainforests of Costa Rica, leading a student tour group through Portugal and Spain, and exploring the rich cultural landscape of Amsterdam. Together, we've cultivated a life filled with the things we love: food, culture, diversity, growth, fun, cinema, nature, flora, fauna, and of course, our two beloved cat babies—Boots (our baby girl tuxedo cat) and Canelo (our big, stinky, dumb, lovable cuddlebug). We got engaged at a place close to our hearts—the bluffs of UCSB's Campus Point, where we spent many beautiful moments together as undergraduate students. In true reflection of our playful relationship, Aleesha beat Martin to the punch by jokingly asking if he wanted to marry her, before he had the chance to pop the question. To her surprise, Martin immediately got down on one knee and asked her to make it official. The spontaneity and joy of that moment perfectly captured the spirit of our relationship.