Matt and I first met (via Zoom) in August 2020 during our PhD orientation. When I first started the program, in the middle of COVID, I’d already decided I wasn’t there to make friends. I was getting the degree paid for and then leaving Athens. I had enough friends. It’s funny now that I met my absolute best friend and I no longer am getting the degree paid for, but I digress. During our first semester, Matt and I were acquaintances (at best). I knew he was the quiet, good with numbers guy who always had a hat on and long hair. I knew he smiled a lot and when he spoke up in class, I knew to listen because I’d learn something. This acquaintance became more friendly in the spring of 2021 when Matt started tutoring me and another friend through our advanced statistics course. If you know me, you know I’m horrible with numbers so I was not going to say no to the help. That semester I learned that Matt has a witty sense of humor, thinks I’m funny, and can handle my sarcasm. He single handedly earned me that A-, but no cheating involved, of course. My birthday is March 21 and Matt was invited to my party. Knowing Matt now, he would’ve hated every second of said party so I’m glad he didn’t come. However, he did text me in our own text thread for the first time (instead of a group message). I wish I could say I was smart enough to realize what was right in front of me, but it took me about 5 more months. Finally, on September 1, 2021, I texted Matt a question about class: “Did you even read for Strategy and Management?”. I asked because he participated heavily in class while I remained lost. Anyway, Matt and I have talked everyday since September 1, 2021. He took me on our first “date” which I affectionally call a “frate” (friend date) because Matt respected my slow moving emotions by only referring to us as friends for awhile. We both quickly realized this was more than a friendship. He put away the Florida blue and orange for Bulldog red and black to watch games with my parents and I crashed his family’s Christmas (nothing like meeting your future in laws by showing up 5 days early and staying for 10 days!). Over the next year, we became inseparable—I mean he even moved in 10 doors down—and on August 20, 2022 Matt asked me to spend forever with him and of course I said yes!

In 2020, I moved to Athens to start my PhD program at the University of Georgia. I was a Gator in Bulldog country, something that seems bizarre to me even now. As my family loves to remind me, I started classes with one goal in mind: finishing my program. I convinced myself that all of that love stuff could wait, given that doctoral programs aren’t necessarily known for their lively dating scenes. Fortunately for me, I couldn’t have been more wrong. I vividly remember the first time that I met Tori. We were in Zoom classes at the time, so our professors were insistent that we try to get to know each other as best as we could. As many of you know, going out and talking to people who I don’t know is not necessarily my favorite thing to do. As I distractedly waited my turn, one introduction in particular caught my attention. Tori unmuted and spoke with such confidence and poise, seemingly unaffected by the opinions of the 20 or so strangers in our class. In a (virtual) room full of intelligent and charismatic people, there was just something special about Tori. From that moment on, I looked forward every week to class (for the learning, of course). I discovered that Tori was funny, smart, and had this weird habit of eating greek yogurt and blueberries at varying times of the day. Yet it wasn’t until spring 2021 that I got to know who Tori truly was. During that semester, I helped Tori with our Statistics II course. If you believed her self-deprecation, you would think that she hadn’t taken a math class in her life. Luckily that wasn’t remotely the case, and our tutoring sessions offered the chance to get to know each other a little better. Through inside jokes, sarcasm, and the occasional piece of serious conversation, I confirmed my initial opinion of Tori was spot-on. Unbeknownst to me, my feelings for her continued to develop. However, as someone new to the city, if a friendship was the extent of our relationship, that was alright too. Fast forward to Fall of 2022. Classes were finally back in-person (fun fact: the first time I met Tori outside of zoom, I found out she was way taller than I ever guessed)! On September 1st, Tori asked me an innocent question about class, and then we proceeded to text for 3 or 4 hours. The next day, we talked for another 2 or 3 hours. Looking back, I guess I should have realized that she might be interested in me as more than a friend. I’m sure her story will include references to the infamous friend date or the missed opportunities for me to hug her. The truth is, I was so worried about playing my cards right that I didn’t want to mess anything up! Since our first date, I knew Tori was my person. Our hours of conversation only ever left me hoping for more time together. She became my confidant, my instant source of laughter, and my biggest supporter. She constantly pushes me to grow as a person, and I like to think that we both bring out the absolute best qualities in each other. While we had decided that we wanted to “see each other through every season” before getting engaged, I decided that I just couldn’t quite wait the full year. I surprised Tori by proposing on August 20, 2022 at Lake Herrick (with our dog Jack in attendance). I cannot wait to continue to be consistently amazed and inspired by Tori as we go through life together.