It was the first week of medical school at Rutgers RWJ and we were both at an orientation pre-party. I overhead Mackenzie had gone to Penn State and knew it was the perfect way to start a conversation. We had a quick conversation and exchanged numbers before we both parted ways to club where the main orientation event was being held. It was not long before we both ran into each other later that night, continued our conversation, drank Whiskey Gingers (only because he bought me them, gross), and danced the night away. Over the next few weeks we became best friends and soon inseparable. As medical school started to consume our lives and our time we adapted our schedules to study together, to take gym breaks together, to eat meals together, and obviously get ice cream together. As the year came to an end Mackenzie was persistent about a serious relationship, but I was hesitant as I had previously ended a long-term relationship. We had an undeniable connection, but when the first year of medical school concluded we went back to our respective hometowns and didn't talk much that summer. That was Mackenzie's way of saying we either have a relationship or we don't, which was fair. We reconnected at the same club during orientation at the end of the summer and the rest is history. We supported each other through medical school and couples matched to great surgical training programs in Rochester, New York. We bought our first home after our first year of residency. We now are both in our second year of residency and 6 months ago added Dudley to our little family.

Our story first started on an unsuspecting night during medical student orientation. Per Robert Wood Johnson Medical School tradition, it was the final night of orientation and that meant the school rented out the Latin club in town, Perle, for a night of fun. The “pregame” party was winding down and Ubers were starting to arrive when on my way out the door I was introduced to someone who “also went to Penn State.” Hearing that phrase alone is generally enough to make me like someone, however little did I know that this time, the person on the other end of that description would far exceed my expectations. It was Alexa. Having just a couple of minutes of conversation before my uber arrived, we instantly hit it off and ended up exchanging phone numbers. We reconnected at Perle that night and danced the night away while drinking whiskey and ginger ale (which I later learned she hated). Medical school quickly picked up and it didn’t take long to realize that we shared way more than an alma mater. We got to know each other better by becoming study buddies along with our favorite “third wheel,” Mike. While focusing on the subject matter at hand we indirectly learned that we shared many passions and personality traits that undeniably made us compatible partners. Despite this, Alexa did her best to try and deny it for the better part of a year. She remained persistent in her denials at my attempts to begin a formal relationship, but luckily for us, I was more persistent. We finally began dating almost exactly 1 year after meeting and haven’t looked back. Since then we have shared many special times together ranging from the bliss of achieving our dreams of becoming physicians to the stress and humbling experience of being a junior resident. As we continue to grow our life together, now in Rochester, NY, we are looking forward to our best lifetime milestone yet in becoming husband and wife.

It was Saturday, September 14th, 2019 - a beautiful day in Rochester, NY both literally and figuratively. It was Penn State game day and we both finally had off from work together. A few weeks prior we had just brought home the newest addition to our family, Dudley, and we were busy potty training and showing him the ropes of how to be a Penn State fan. Our typical morning-off routine ensued, wake up, go to the gym, come home eat breakfast and get ready for kick-off at noon. Since we hadn't yet announced Dudley's arrival we thought it would be a good idea considering the weather to take family pictures decked out in our Penn State gear. I had asked a friend from work who enjoys photography to take pictures for us and he agreed to after the game due to his work schedule. Mackenzie wanted to try to take a few pictures before the game, he said in case the weather turned. Not thinking much of it because Rochester's weather is not always the most predictable and because I loving taking pictures in general, I did not need convincing. We gathered Dudley and sat on our porch steps posing for our pictures. Dudley was not the most cooperative during this operation. Mackenzie was trying to get his attention when he said, "Dudley say cheese" and "Dudley now say will you marry me?". Dudley was squirming in my lap and I didn't even hear it at first until Mackenzie got up and on one knee. I remember gasping, looking at Dudley and looking at Mackenzie and then I can't remember the rest! At the end Mackenzie said, "you didn't even say yes yet!". YES YES YES! We can't wait to celebrate our love with you in the Finger Lakes!