Cecelia and I's first date took place one week after we first met on campus at the University of Minnesota. We met up to watch the Gophers take down Miami (of Ohio) at 11am. After the game we walked together through the sprawling college grounds, stopping at Chipotle on the West Bank of campus for a mid-day snack break. By about eight hours later, we each had taken about 28,000 steps (still my most steps in a day to date). We eventually reached a freshmen dorm, Comstock Hall, and turned around to face each other, alone in the world at that moment. Even though we had spent all day together, talking and flirting, I still couldn't believe it was real and even stopped our first kiss for a moment to ask, "Wait, do you really like me?" From then, it has been nothing but bliss for 3+ years, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with Cece. - Caden

The day Caden proposed felt like a dream. It began with a trip to the Bell Museum, where we explored exhibits and watched an IMAX presentation about the stars. Stargazing and learning together have always been a big part of our relationship, so it was the perfect way to start the day. In fact, the previous night, we had trekked up to the telescope observatory deck in the physics building to view distant sky-bound objects, including Jupiter appearing white through the 100+ year-old lens. After the museum, we enjoyed coffee and played cards, soaking in the simplicity of our time together. As the day turned to evening, we took a walk through campus, reflecting on our favorite memories and all the moments that brought us closer. Our walk ended at the courtyard behind the math building—our favorite spot on campus. I was stunned to see the steps lined with a red carpet and glowing lights. As we entered the threshold, I noticed our friends' faces, waiting with bated breath, as what seemed like hundreds of tea candles and a sea of rose petals surrounded us. In a moment, Caden got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of forever with him. My heart knew the answer to his question instantly: YES! - Cecelia