We met in a summer biology course at Joliet Junior College. I was just beginning my college journey, and Levi was gearing up to apply to graduate programs within the year. For the first few weeks, we barely noticed each other… until fate (and a random in-class seating reshuffle) placed me diagonal from him. After class that day, Levi started a conversation by asking how I did on the test. That simple question turned into a walk all the way to my car, talking the entire time. I instantly loved how naturally he carried a conversation and how warm and genuine his personality felt. He introduced himself as “Levi… like the jeans,” and I laughed and said, “Kaylee with a K.” From there, everything just clicked. Over the next few weeks, we chatted before class, spent our lunch breaks together, and found out we had so much in common. He was easy to talk to, thoughtful, and had this way of making conversations feel effortless. (Fun fact: on the very first day we spoke, he asked how old I was—and was genuinely shocked to find out we have 4 years between us!) Eventually, we made plans outside of school and went to a Mardi Gras fest in downtown Joliet. We had the best time, and from that point on, things unfolded naturally. What most people don’t know is that by the end of that summer, Levi actually moved into the home I owned in Joliet so he could finish a few more courses at JJC. We talked it through, it felt right, and we took a leap...one that turned out to be perfect for us. And now, here we are… building our life together, planning a wedding, and looking back at how we ended up in the same class at the right time.