We're getting married!

As cheesy as it sounds, the happy couple still remembers the very first time they saw each other during the summer of 2021 at a barbecue for med students before classes started. Jacob was about to walk into the party when he accidentally locked eyes with Zulfiya on her way to the bathroom. While he was trying to gauge her ethnicity, she was left wondering why he was smiling at her. Jacob often smiled in awkward situations, while Zulfiya tended to be skeptical of everyone she met. About an hour later, they finally started talking. Jacob was developing TMJ from chatting with everyone, while Zulfiya kept checking her watch, wondering when it would be socially acceptable to leave. He made several attempts to approach her, but they kept getting each other's names wrong—Jacob called her "Sofia," and she called him "Joseph." Eventually, they got it right and began studying together. In med school, this meant spending all day in each other's company. Studying was tough, but having each other made it a little easier. As the curriculum grew more challenging, they found themselves spending even more time together. Later that winter, they made it official, with Zulfiya being the one to take the leap. While staying in New Orleans, she got down on one knee with a crumpled-up Ring Pop on the rooftop of their hotel and asked him to be her boyfriend. They still cannot believe how cheesy it was. As their studies became more demanding, they decided to move in together later that semester in 2022. During that time, they also adopted their first cat, Cookie, which solidified their bond even more. But Cookie grew lonely with all their studying, so they welcomed a second cat, Brownie, who, surprisingly, acted more like a puppy. He thrived on attention and loved playing fetch. By the end of their second year, they completed their first round of board exams and began their clinical rotations in New York by the summer of 2023. It was during this time that Jacob proposed to Zulfiya on the top of Summit One Vanderbilt on July 22nd. After finishing their rotations, they each chose their specialties: Jacob went into Psychiatry, while Zulfiya opted for Internal Medicine. They relocated to New Jersey in the spring of 2024, where they have been living since. Now, the next step in their journey is applying for residency training, which they have just completed, and they are currently interviewing all over the Northeast. They hope to stay close to family and friends. This will ideally be their last move for a while, as they plan to buy a home together after starting residency. While they look forward to the possibility of children in the future, they are focused on taking it one step at a time. Regardless of what lies ahead, they know that being together will make any challenge easier. From studying for 12 hours a day to managing the floors of a hospital together, it has been a rewarding journey. They cherish every moment they've shared and eagerly anticipate their future together. Thank you for being a part of their journey; they cannot wait to celebrate their love with you!