Mark and I had met back in 2016 through mutual friends while we both attended Palomar College. Over the next year or so we had about a handful of interactions that were significant enough for us to make it out of being acquaintances to friends. However, it wasn't until end of 2017 where we clicked over playful banter and (mainly Mark's) awkward ways of impressing one another at a friend's party.

Mark had spent a lot of time planning out our first date. His original plans were to take us to grab pho and watch the movie IT. Where if any of you know this, I absolutely HATE the idea of clowns and anything to do with spooky Halloween. He really thought that I would be accepting to the idea that since I was with him, I'd be willing to watch the movie. Mark definitely thought wrong. After his multiple attempts of trying to persuade me, and my opinion not budging, Mark had to improvise the rest of our date by driving me all around San Marcos taking me shopping for our Halloween costumes. Little did he know, that years later, he would still be having to drive me around town shopping for whatever I want.

After five years of dating and three years of living together, it felt right to make it official. We had a family trip planned later in the year of 2023 to Hawaii--a favorite vacation location between the both of us. Mark began his plan in asking for my parent's permission, designing the ring and making sure that I didn't find out. We proceeded our trip to Hawaii and on October 19th, 2023, Mark got down on one knee at the Kaneohe Sandbar in Oahu, Hawaii. This was special because not only are we able to say that we got engaged in our favorite vacation spot, but when we got back on the catamaran we were able to celebrate our engagement slow dancing to our song by a live band.