The first time Liv and I met was freshman year in the Academy library. We had a lovely conversation about our mutual friends from home who both went to Santa Clara which she proceeded to forget about. The second time we met was the first day of summer training on my 19th birthday (she did not wish me a happy birthday). That summer which was filled with edible worms, death hikes, and gossip-filled campfires was the beginning of a beautiful friendship turned romance. Over the next semester, I always looked forward to chemistry class, so I could spend 20 minutes getting an energy drink from the cadet store and the rest of the class annoying the nerdy, but cute girl next to me. In true dumb college boy fashion, I thought I was firmly cemented in the friend zone until Liv’s roommate clued me in on the way to the airport. One Snapchat DM later, and our love story truly began. Meeting her family was really important to me before making it official, but with the smell of Ivy’s sesame chicken filling our borrowed ride, I couldn’t wait a minute longer and asked her to be my girlfriend. Liv and I spent the next two years at the Academy dodging/catching COVID and exploring Colorado whenever we got the chance until we began our seemingly never ending long distance stint filled with many Southwest flights and adventures throughout Colorado, California, and Texas. After months of planning and hiding evidence of the ring, I proposed to Liv across the bay from her hometown overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. A few months later on August 31st, 2024 we eloped in Rocky Mountain National Park and have been patiently waiting to celebrate our marriage on May 16th!

Anthony and I met the very first day of summer training at the Academy. Instantly, we connected and before I knew it I was sharing the other half of my chili MRE. From then on we became good friends and ended up having Chemistry together, no pun intended. For a whole semester he would try to distract me with puppy videos and I would try to get him to know I liked him with really subtle “hey” texts when we were sitting right next to each other. Eventually, a friend let him know that I had a crush on him and had for 6 months and he asked me to be his girlfriend on January 17th, 2020, in the Ivy’s Chinese parking lot. From there, we dated all through the Academy. After the Academy, I went off to UC Davis and he stayed in the Springs where we gave our first try at long distance. It was hard, but to this day it was such a gift too. We got to see so many sights in California, Colorado, and Texas, making every weekend trip an adventure and a chance to make memories together. In February 2024, in front of the Golden Gate Bridge, he asked me to marry him, which of course I responded with “I KNEW IT!” and then more appropriately proceeded to say yes! On August 31st, 2024 we eloped in Rocky Mountain National Park. 6 years together and we cannot wait to celebrate our love with everyone we love on May 16th!