Stephanie and Kevin started law school at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law — home of the sharks — in the fall of 2015. The incoming law school class was divided into four sections with about 80 people in each section. Stephanie and Kevin both found themselves in Section One. In addition to being in the same section, they each reported to the professor who advised students with an interest in government or international work. During one of the introductory sessions, Kevin and Stephanie sat near each other. They also sat near each other in their Contracts and Civil Procedure courses. Kevin was fairly (very!) shy when it came to talking with Stephanie during the classroom break sessions. However, Stephanie didn’t let that stop her. After several attempts to get Kevin and the other students around him to join in on a class related discussion, Stephanie tried another topic — country music. Stephanie mentioned that she went to a Luke Bryan & Florida Georgia Line concert with her mom, and Kevin’s shyness faded away. They started talking about how they enjoyed country music, wine, and adventure. During one of UC Hastings’ famous Beer on the Beach events, Kevin and Stephanie enjoyed a cold beer and discussed some of their other passions. They connected over travel, education, world politics, and various other topics. Soon, they connected over their interest in each other.

Although Stephanie and Kevin had only been dating for seven months, they were forced to spend their first summer apart while Kevin attended the U.S. Marine Corps’ Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. The romanticized version includes love letters from Stephanie to Kevin which helped him through difficult days in Quantico. He’d stay up late reading her words of encouragement and then write back (if he didn't fall asleep). Stephanie wrote letters every day on her lunch break while working at the U.S. District Court of Northern California. Kevin was only allowed to use his phone after the first three weeks of training. Even then, after those first three weeks, he could only use his phone once a week on Saturdays. The warmth of Stephanie’s voice brightened his day each week. Stephanie flew to Quantico at the beginning of August to watch Kevin commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. They were reunited after a summer apart, and their love only grew stronger after the experience.

After seeing both a leopard and cheetah earlier in the day, Kevin knew the moment was perfect. Stephanie and Kevin were staying at the Hoyo-Hoyo Game Lodge in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. The lodge (unfenced) is located in the heart of the Kruger Park with access to every animal that roams the African bushfeldt. They headed off on their afternoon safari to see elephants, giraffes, cheetah, and, for the best shot of the trek, a male leopard with a kill in a tree. Kevin planned all of the details of his proposal (down to the minute, as a Marine would). He wanted to ask Stephanie to marry him while the glowing orange sun drifted over the horizon. As the time came to leave the leopard sighting and stop to have sunset drinks, the safari guide decided it was too good of a photo opportunity to leave. Kevin’s heart started racing as his plan began to unravel. Would he wait and ask her back at the lodge? Would he ask her the following morning or evening? After watching the sun go down before his eyes, Kevin pondered his next move. When the safari guide eventually left the leopard and stopped the truck 15 minutes away, Kevin asked Stephanie to take a photo with him. He then asked her a very important question. “Will you marry me?” Well, you all know what happened next.

When friends and family asked the couple “when’s your wedding date?” they always responded with, “sometime after the bar exam.” If law school wasn’t hard enough, California required Stephanie and Kevin to sit for a two-day exam with 1500 other people squeezed into the same Marriott Convention Center. The laborious days of studying were exciting because they were learning all different facets of the law. Those days were also scary, stressful, and filled with doubt. Stephanie and Kevin were each other’s support system, along with countless other family members and friends. Stephanie and Kevin survived the dreaded summer and ultimately swore into the California Bar.

After officially becoming licensed attorneys, Stephanie and Kevin looked for work opportunities. Stephanie interviewed with her current law firm and landed the job. Stephanie and Kevin then decided to move down to Southern California so Stephanie could start working full-time as an attorney. The couple is very happy with the move and they are enjoying exploring their new home. See you all in Southern California this fall!