"Déja, you have a new resident... Don't hit on her." Déja's colleague, Millie, shared with her as she entered the Residence Hall. It was the Spring of 2015, and Déja was a resident advisor in one of the largest residential communities at Appalachian State University. Jessie was a brand new resident who just moved into Déja's community, and Millie knew that Déja was going to find that to be a challenge. Déja looked at Millie, clearly affronted, "I would never flirt with my resident!" However, Millie just looked at Déja, smiled and shook her head. A few hours later, Déja knocked on Jessie’s door to introduce herself and every charming greeting and charismatic hello disappeared. With playful puns and cheeky comments, Jessie found a way to spark dialogue and establish a beautiful friendship. A few conversations, music and paint nights, and pitiful video game tutorials later; their friendship blossomed into romance. The conversations, art nights, and pitiful game nights haven’t ended; and don’t show sign of stopping,

Nearly five years later, Déja and Jessie are living nearly 3000 miles away in Portland, Oregon with two dogs, two cats, and a snake (a snake that Déja will forever insist is Jessie’s snake). While Déja was engulfed in preparing for the end of the semester, Jessie was engulfed in planning a whirlwind surprise. On May 10th, 2019, Jessie took Déja out to a restaurant, and while Déja was distracted, Jessie had a team of Déja’s favorite students and close friends arranging for a surprise proposal. Upon their return back to the apartment, Jessie “forgot her wallet in the car,” and said that she would meet Déja in the apartment. However, Déja was met with an envelope on the door to the apartment instead and Jessie was nowhere to be found. This note was a clue, and the start to a campus-wide scavenger hunt; and each clue led to a location close to their hearts, with a dear friend or student waiting with the next letter. After taking a journey across campus with friends and loved ones, Déja was led to a balcony decorated with faux candles (it is a residence hall after all), lights, champagne, and a Jessie on one knee. Jessie barely had time to proclaim her love before Déja said yes, and they are both incredibly excited to celebrate their union with all of you! #IfTheRingFitz