Kristi & Curtis met in 2009 as participants in a Japanese-American foreign exchange program called Yonsei, which paired 24 American and Japanese families to play basketball together, home-stay, and visit major attractions in each others’ countries. The American coalition was composed of two basketball teams – twelve boys and twelve girls – and Kristi and Curtis made the cut for their respective teams. They were assigned to travel on the same bus in Japan, where they spent long commutes sharing local snacks, singing karaoke, and getting to know each other in a silly eighth-grade way, naive to what was to come.

Kristi and Curtis continued to hang out and made their relationship official a few months after their Japan trip. Despite living 30 miles apart, their parents supported the relationship by spending many weekend nights driving across the city, often meeting halfway at the Krispy Kreme in Gardena to get the kids together and take them to their final destination. Needless to say it was a huge relief when K+C turned sixteen and were finally able to drive themselves. Let it be known that Kristi got her license first and Curtis failed his first time! Throughout high school, K+C supported each other through all their academics and extracurricular activities, like attending football and basketball games, dancing at every school formal (that’s a lot of dresses!), competing in science fairs, and spending countless nights studying for exams and proofreading each others’ essays. Despite busy schedules and physical distance, K+C made it work thanks to unlimited talk+text and making time to get together on most weekends.

Senior year and college decisions are a huge deal for most high schoolers, and K+C were no exception. Curtis was exploring different parts of the country and Kristi was set on staying in Southern California. They agreed to tackle the application process independently and not let the relationship influence their decisions. Kristi received a scholarship to Chapman her freshman year and knew her goal would be to transfer to USC for sophomore year. Curtis narrowed down his choices to USC and another school across the country but ultimately ended up choosing USC. At the time, he was convinced it was because of academic and cultural reasons; however, nowadays when Kristi asks Curtis how big of a role she played in the decision, the percentage increases each time (we are now at 70%). Spending freshman year at different universities was no problem, since they already had four years of practice under their belt going to different schools. As planned, Kristi attended USC starting sophomore year. At this point, Kristi had already met most of Curtis’ friends who welcomed and helped acclimate her to life at USC. They spent the next three years finally together at the same school. Kristi studied business, worked in the Marshall School of Business admissions office, and became CFO of her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. Curtis studied neuroscience, researched at USC’s stem cell and regenerative medicine center, DJed every weekend, and became VP of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. In their senior year, they decided to live in an off-campus apartment where it became apparent that life was so easy together.

Fresh out of college, K+C spent the next few years finding their stride in various jobs and opportunities while continuing to live together and develop their relationship. Between work, outings with friends, USC football games, a softball league, moving into a house, and COVID, K+C have stayed busy but always find ways to make time for each other through it all. Amid all the great experiences during this period, the highlight was a fake fishing trip where Curtis finally popped the question. 5 years since college has been a whirlwind to say the least!

With a wedding approaching, Kristi and Curtis have reflected on their time together and how they managed to make it work through different milestones and challenges. It’s crazy to think that those 14 year olds sharing iPod earbuds on a bus in Japan in 2009 would end up so intertwined. Their love, friendship, and commitment to one another continues to grow every day. They are so excited to share their love and gratitude with the family and friends who have been a part of their story as they enter a new chapter together. KANPAI! LET’S GET THEM MARRIED!