My first meeting with Somya was in a hotel conference room in Montreal in January of 2016. I was, at the time, wearing a preposterous West Point uniform called “Dress Gray,” which looks like a cross between the American Civil War and Star Trek. I was pretending to be a representative of Germany in a college Model United Nations committee on global economic development. I was perhaps at my most visibly nerdy. Luckily, the girl who happened to be representing France (a tale as old as time) was at least equally nerdy, and she didn’t even have the excuse of using an extracurricular as a way to escape West Point. It did not take me long to realize two things: first, we were not going to solve global inequality in that collegiate conference, and second, I really liked the supposed Tennessee Titans fan that I ended up working with all weekend. Somya was smart, funny, and very easily stood out from anyone else I had ever met. Model UN gave us an excuse to see each other often over the next year, and under the veil of overly enthusiastic simulated diplomacy, we became close. In December of 2016 I finally worked up the courage to ask Somya on our first “real” date – and it was a big ask. I invited her to attend “500th Night,” a formal military ball held at West Point that January. Not only would she be plunged into the pomp and circumstance of a ceremonial military event, she would also be going skiing with my group of friends. Despite having had a major ear surgery just weeks before and not knowing how to ski, Somya accepted. What followed was her first visit to West Point and introduction to the Army, as well as a trial-by-fire meeting with many of the people who will now be in the wedding party. She survived it all – in spite of my ill-conceived decision to bring her down ski slopes much more difficult than she was ready for. It was possibly reckless, probably medically inadvisable, and absolutely the best first date I could imagine. That was eight years ago, and all of those years have been part of the story. We grew together over the last years of college, a summer in DC, several more military formals, and trips back and forth between West Point and Williamsburg. By the time we watched each other graduate, we knew we were in it for the long haul, no matter the distance. Medicine kept Somya in Philadelphia, and the Army sent me all over: Alabama, Kansas, Romania, Germany, Poland, and Georgia. I have been lucky to have had Somya’s support through all of that. She remains the kindest, most capable, and most caring person I know. After years of long-distance calls, cross-country flights, and adventures together, I cannot wait to marry her.

Our story started on a freezing January 2016 morning in the ballroom of the Le Centre Sheraton Montreal at a Model UN conference. I was France, he was Germany —a tale as old as time. But in this version, France wasn’t eager to work with Germany. I had already profiled him as a fierce competitor and was determined to win on my own terms. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), circumstances forced us to team up. As we swapped ideas (and laptops), my initial disinterest quickly transformed into a major crush. Derrick was clearly the smartest person in the room, and he had the charisma to match. Though neither of us ended up winning any awards that weekend, we gained something far more meaningful. We decided to keep in touch, a choice which turned out to be the biggest prize of all. What started as a Model UN partnership quickly blossomed into a real friendship that withstood both time and distance. Derrick and I didn’t see each other again until that fall, but we remained in touch daily with either texts or Snapchats. October and November brought more Model UN conferences in DC and Philadelphia (!!) during which we were able to reunite and spend more time together in person. The end of 2016 saw the Army football team snap the 14-year Navy win streak of the annual Army-Navy game, which inspired enough goodwill in Derrick that he finally worked up the courage to ask me to be his date to his upcoming formal at West Point (500th night). Almost a year after we first met in snowy Montreal, I drove a couple hours up to New York to spend the weekend skiing (I had essentially zero prior skiing experience), attending Derrick’s formal, and getting to know some of Derrick’s non-Model UN friends. Despite my countless stumbles on the slopes, Derrick stuck by my side, always helped me up when I fell down, and somehow still liked me after it was all said and done. The rest, as they say, is history—though it did take Derrick three more months to officially ask me to be his girlfriend (thanks, Jack!). After an amazing first summer in DC together, those who know us well know that the rest of our relationship has always been marked by long distance. From experiencing all of the joys and milestones of being seniors in college [Derrick: West Point, NY; Me: Williamsburg, VA], to navigating flight school and my first job post-grad [Derrick: Enterprise, AL; Me: Philadelphia, PA], to Derrick’s first real post (Manhattan, KS) and me starting medical school in the midst of a global pandemic (Philadelphia, PA), to Derrick’s deployments (Romania, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands), we have certainly spent more time physically apart than we have together. But without a doubt, all of the airplane miles, FaceTime hours, and time apart has always been worth it for the genuine partnership, connection, and love that we share. Derrick is the most intelligent, selfless, thoughtful, and steadfast person that I have ever met. I feel fortunate to have found a love that is so honest and true. On May 18, 2024, we got engaged in Washington Square Park after a stop at Talula’s Daily, our favorite coffee shop. We can’t wait to welcome you all back to Philadelphia in October 2025 to celebrate our wedding and the next chapter of our adventure!