Forever and Always

It all began during Halloween weekend in 2018 when Alex hosted a Halloween party with his roommates. Through mutual friends, Clarissa was invited and decided to attend. The moment she walked in, she locked eyes with Alex, who introduced himself. As the night came to end, Clarissa and Alex spent the entire night talking. Until it was time for Clarissa to go home and Alex offered to walk her home. She declined because she was walking with her roommate and assured him she could take care of herself. Weeks later, their paths crossed again at CSUF's intramural sports, where Clarissa worked as an attendant, and Alex played soccer. Not long after, Alex slid into Clarissa’s DM’s and invited her to another party the Friday before Thanksgiving break. Because Clarissa was flying home for Thanksgiving the night of that party, she said she couldn’t attend so instead Alex asked her on a date before her flight. Their first date was sushi! From that point on, they spent more and more time together. Their early dates included studying at the library, trips to the beach, and cozy evenings watching favorite childhood movies. After 4 months of dating they made it official on February 7, 2019. March brought an important milestone—Clarissa met Alex’s family at his 21st birthday celebration. Shortly after, during spring break of their junior year, Alex joined Clarissa on a trip to the Bay Area to meet her family. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, their lives, like everyone else’s, were upended. Despite the challenges, they supported each other through the final stretch of their time at CSUF and celebrated their graduation during this unprecedented time. In 2020, Alex moved to the Bay Area to live with Clarissa and her family. They shared two years of growth, love, and memorable moments there. After years of dating, they decided to take the next big step: getting their own apartment. Then, on August 25, 2023, Alex surprised Clarissa with a proposal on her birthday, marking the beginning of their next chapter together. Looking back, their years together have been filled with unforgettable memories and adventures. Through it all, they’ve learned that home isn’t a place—it’s wherever they are, together.