Michael and Becca's story began in 2016 during their freshman year at Western Illinois University, where they were both studying broadcasting. On move-in day, they were assigned to work together on a class project documenting their first 24 hours on campus. Michael had already planned out the project with a group of friends and wasn’t exactly thrilled about the unexpected partner change—but sometimes the best things in life start as the plans we never expected. As they worked on the assignment together, something started to click. What began as a simple class project quickly turned into easy conversations and many shared laughs. The following weekend, while most of the students on their floor were heading out to their first college parties, Michael and Becca each chose a quiet night in their dorm rooms. Michael spent the evening playing video games, while Becca curled up watching reruns of I Love Lucy. Later that night, Michael decided to take a small leap and asked Becca if she wanted to go for a walk. Best decision ever. What was meant to be a short 30-minute walk turned into hours of conversation as they circled the track at Hanson Field. They talked about everything—family, the things that made them laugh, and the things that shaped who they were. By the end of the night, neither of them quite felt like strangers anymore. Just two days later, Michael asked Becca to be his girlfriend. Nine years later, she is his fiancée. Life since that night has been filled with new cities, new jobs, unexpected challenges, and countless milestones. Through every chapter, they’ve grown up side by side—learning, supporting, and choosing each other again and again. Michael has been Becca's steady place in every season of life: the person who can always make her laugh with one of his dad jokes, the one who lifts her up on hard days, and the one who reminds her that she can always be completely and unapologetically herself. So when Michael finally dropped to one knee, the answer wasn’t something Becca had to think hard about.