We're Tying the Knot

Rebecca is the most remarkable person in my life. I met Rebecca during the 2015 Summer Orientation at East Stroudsburg University. During the orientation, I went with the wrong group from my own lack of awareness of what was going on (Probably because of the overwhelming excitement I had going into college). I was later directed to the correct location where I was seated with Dr. Beth Sockman. We talked about the major of Digital Media Technologies, and as time passed, people finally ended up in our room, and the first person that walked through that door was Rebecca Mae Stephens. Rebecca was beautiful and I had an apprehensive sense about her, whether it was by the way she walked or looked I still don't know. Yet there was a whimsical sense I had about her, I just knew I liked her. We didn't share a word until the group was relocated to Sci-Tech for a math test. On the walk over I made her giggle which was a HUMONGOUS achievement for me. I sat next to her for the test and I remember clear as day how excited I was, yet luck wasn't on my side, because Rebecca was born left-handed, and she had to move to the other side of the room. After that, I didn't see her again during the orientation. When college finally began, we had our freshman orientation the weekend before classes, and I didn't see her for the entire weekend (within the year I learned that Rebecca saw me several times). On the first day of classes, I wanted to arrive early to my first class. As I was walking into the building, I see her. She was sitting alone, on her phone, of course, looking adorable. I kept talking to her as much as I could because if you couldn't tell I had a huge crush on her. All my life I never had one girlfriend, I was 310 lb with a very dorky personality that couldn't imagine being with a girl as beautiful and smart as her. Over time Rebecca and I finally started dating and falling in love, taking as many classes as we can together, joining the same clubs together, and even working the same work-study job together. We created so many memories together. It's the little things that I come to love to reflect on, for example during our freshman year Rebecca didn't like taking the elevator from a natural fear of them, so we would walk up and down those stairs (I forgot to mention she lived on the 5th floor, one reason I lost all my weight). Every little task; trial and tribulation Rebecca and I have gone through and will go through is worth it. Without a doubt one of the best things to come out of East Stroudsburg University, I can't thank the University enough for the education and life it has given me.

The day Kyle proposed was like any other day. It was a Monday, so I was headed to work, and Kyle had the day off. I had asked Kyle the night before if he would come to the office that day to help me catch up on some content I was behind on. It was like any other busy, late work day in the office, and I didn't really think anything of it when Kyle offered Wawa for dinner. Once Kyle and I grabbed dinner from our go-to Wawa location, across from East Stroudsburg University, we took a stroll down memory lane through our college major building, Rosenkrans before ending up at the bench where we shared many Wawa meals throughout our four years at ESU. After finishing up our sandwiches, I headed back into Rosenkrans to use the bathroom before we headed home for the night. As I was heading back to the bench that Kyle was still sitting at, I snapped a few pictures on my phone of what I now know was a very nervous Kyle, who was trying to set his phone up to get the best video of our engagement. When I finally walked back to the bench, I turned my back to Kyle to head to our car when all of a sudden I felt a touch on my arm, and I turn around to Kyle on ONE KNEE with a GORGEOUS ring in his hand! I wish I could tell you what happened next, but it was such a whirlwind of happiness, cries, hugs, and maybe a few kisses (sorry dad!) that you'll have to see the video to know what happened next. After sitting on our bench and just taking in the incredible feeling (and maybe a bit of relief for Kyle) of being engaged, we decided to take a stroll around campus and take a few pictures, before we called our families to announce the news. Little did I know, everyone already knew! My family was waiting at my parent's house to celebrate the exciting news, and Kyle's family surprised us by being out to dinner in Stroudsburg patiently awaiting the news. When we arrived at my parent's house, we were greeted with Bruno Mars's "Marry You" playing, confetti poppers, hugs, and lots of happy tears. We ended the night with a champagne toast, and cake and were surrounded by love from both our families. I can honestly say that day was a truly wonderful day that I will cherish for the rest of my life, and I can't wait to continue to celebrate this next chapter of our love with all of you!