Since the statute of limitations has long passed, it’s safe to admit that I copied Lisette’s math homework almost every day during freshman year of high school. Little did Lisette know, math was my strongest subject, and I was fully capable of doing my own homework but copying hers gave me a daily reason to talk to her. My plan didn’t work…inheriting her high standards from her mother, Lisette found me unmotivated and unworthy of her time. She eventually gave in to my charm and dashing good looks and a year later we started dating, setting a 15-year journey in motion that will culminate on November 20, 2021. Over the last 15 years, we have had 4 long-term stints together and years apart in between. While the years apart allowed us to grow individually, the years together during transformative life chapters have reinforced our love for each other. In High School we were the American classic football player/cheerleader couple on Friday nights, we learned to drive, (mostly) stayed out of trouble, made lifelong friends, went to Prom, and graduated high school together. In college, we went to rival universities, fought through the woes of long-distance, fought even harder when Lisette went abroad to Barcelona, bar crawled, joined Greek life, rooted against each other’s schools, and graduated college together. We enjoyed long-distance so much that Lisette chose a Master's program in Chicago...we survived that too. Over the course of our relationship we’ve been through it all. We’ve traveled, made memories, mourned the loss of loved ones, survived a quarantine, celebrated accomplishments, and added the sweetest dog to our family. We’ve been supportive of each other in our successes and also given each other the honest truth in times when we missed the mark. Our love for each other has been tested, and time and time again we come out the other side stronger. Lisette is my best friend and I am hers. I can’t wait to call her my wife. -Brandon