We met during Fall semester of 2014 in a class called "Language for Teachers" at Wright State University. I'd like to say that we learned a lot about how to be great teachers, but to be completely honest, I think the only things we learned were about each other. Either way, I'm glad to have taken that class because it's where our story began. Our friendship grew over the next couple years, and in March of 2016 we finally (FINALLY) decided to start dating. We graduated in April with our Bachelor degrees and prepared to start our Master's program a week after receiving our diplomas. It was going to be a tough year, and some may say that was poor timing to begin a relationship, but we figured the challenges ahead would be better if we faced them together.

We knew getting our Master's degree was going to be tough considering everything was condensed into a one year program, but we made it through and passed with flying colors. Graduation day was overwhelming. We went out to lunch with both of our families to celebrate our accomplishments, and at the end of our meal, Blake said he had a surprise for me. He handed me his phone and told me to press play. In his "video surprise, " he thanked me for all my help during the past year and expressed how much he needed me; how he didn't want to know what life would be like without me by his side. Blake then revealed in the video that he was in the field where we took a hike together and had our first kiss. Being in that special place, by himself, didn't feel right. In order to never have that feeling of being alone again, he asked if I would turn around so he could ask me a question. As I put the phone away and turned to look at Blake in the restaurant, he was down on one knee with a beautiful ring and asked me to marry him. I was overjoyed and of course said, YES! We had started the day by closing a chapter together in earning our degrees. In the same day, we began a new chapter of our lives together as future husband and wife.