I met Jack during my sophomore year of high school, right after I moved to Ellicott City, Maryland. I was brand new to the county and terrified of being late on my first day, so naturally, I showed up to school an hour early with absolutely no idea where I was going or who I would talk to. My first period was science class with Mrs. Whetstone. I remember sitting there, nervous and completely out of my comfort zone, telling myself that I had to try to make new friends. As students started filing in, everyone was searching for their assigned seats when someone sat down next to me. I glanced down at the name on the desk and read, “John Fitzpatrick.” Jack was one of the very first people I met at my new school — at a time when I was an anxious teenage girl just trying to find her place. Little did I know that seat assignment would turn into something so much bigger. Who knew it was the beginning of our story?

After unknowingly brushing by my future wife on the first day of our sophomore year, I didn't officially meet Dana until the following year, when we were assigned next to each other for our 5th/6th period Mathematics class. From the beginning Dana had such a radiant personality. After getting to know one another, I found myself looking forward to spending the extra-long period with her chatting, laughing, and engaging in a friendly (but heated) rivalry on all of our assignments. She was so easy to talk to and be around, so while I had no clue what the future held for us, it was clear even then that she was truly someone special.