I remember when I moved to Troy in the second grade, I was so scared to make new friends and meet new people. The year began and I met everyone in my class, including this little boy named Kyle Warren. He had a silly little bowl cut and was shorter than me at the time, but he was still adorable. One day, he was talking to me during class and the teacher yelled at us. Me being the type A person I am (even back then), was so furious at him for getting me in trouble. Then began the string of years where we had every class together. I held a secret grudge for that day during elementary school. It was silly, but little 7-year-old me was so upset. We didn't talk much through middle school but had a class together again sophomore year of high school. We began talking and became pretty fast friends. He was funny and I enjoyed talking to him during our free time. We became closer as our friendship continued, but he left for Italy and I left for college right out of high school. We still talked while he was away, but definitely not as much. One summer, he visited home and we hung out again and things just kind of fell into place. We got together officially December 21, 2021. From then, we have tackled a 7-hour time difference, moving in together, and navigating life with one another. I couldn't be more grateful for the amazing love I have found with Kyle, and I cannot wait for us to experience everything else life has to offer for us.

Arabella and I met in the second grade. I thought she was pretty, but we did not talk much. I remember one day during class I asked her a question and the teacher yelled at us. I felt kind of bad, but we moved on from it. We had every elementary school class together from that point on and it was nice being able to see her even though she had a silly haircut. After elementary school, we didn't have any classes together before sophomore year. During that year, we connected more and became actual friends. Our friendship eventually grew into more as we got to know each other. After high school, I lived in Italy and she went to college, so we didn't get to talk as much. One summer I came home on leave, and we began to talk a lot more and rekindled our relationship. During that time we experienced a long-distance relationship, weird time zone differences, and completely different schedules but we made it work. I visited home again that next winter in 2021 and that is when we officially began dating. I love her so much and I cherish all of the time we get to spend together now.