We met on the first day of High School in the Cafeteria. Our mutual friend, Quinn, introduced us and we immediately started a friendship built on snacks, passed notes in class, walks in the woods, and inappropriate jokes. We were friends ever since.

On our vacation to Hawai'i, we spent a day at Volcano National Park and decided to take a ten mile hike up Mauna Loa to reach to outlook. We hiked and talked through lush jungle areas and dry rocky landscape. The Earth got warmer the higher up the trail we got, and when we finally stopped to rest, Tom admired the beautiful landscape and asked me to do the same. When I turned around, Tom had sank to one knee saying -"We've spent most of our friendship walking and talking together, and I want to spend the rest of my life walking hand in hand with you... Christiana Glorius will you marry me?" Of course, I was overjoyed and eagerly said "Yes!" We walked back down the mountain hand-in-hand, and very happily engaged.