Anna and Drew met on their first day at NC State. They quickly became study buddies and lunch companions, forging a close friendship. After winter break apart, they realized their connection was more than just friendship and began dating. When campus shut down in 2020, they found that the two and a half hours between Statesville and Cary were not a problem but an opportunity. They connected through letters and road trips, spending quality time together and with each other’s families. This brought them even closer, as they realized they had common values and a shared love of board games. 84 love letters mailed, 6,000 miles driven, and 10 months later, when they returned to campus, their relationship continued to grow as did their adventures. Making up for lost time, they planned a three-week camping trip out west with friends to explore several national parks. Learning how to cooperate in planning, navigating through difficult circumstances and, relying on each other showed them the strength of their bond. During their final year at school, Anna and Drew relished time with friends by hosting football tailgates and rallying friends for game nights. As graduation approached, Anna and Drew committed to working for Cisco and Raytheon. Their hard work was paying off, and their futures were taking shape. Drew’s role with Raytheon is part of their Leadership Development Program which gives him the opportunity to rotate locations and responsibilities every eight months. Planning an engagement, he chose Wilson, NC, as his first location to be close to Anna in Raleigh. Last summer, during a 4th of July family vacation in Beaufort, Drew got down on one knee to solidify their future together. Since then, life has been a whirlwind as they moved to Texas for work and are discovering everything the state has to offer. Anna and Drew currently enjoy playing pickleball, line dancing, and camping on weekends. Seven weeks after their wedding in Charlotte, the happy couple will call another state home for their next rotation before settling down.