NYE was the first time Arturo and I ever met; a few weeks later, our mutual friend Diego set us up to hang out. The first night we officially hung out, we were both incredibly shy, and I fell asleep on his shoulder in the car. We continued to hang out and talk. He even celebrated my 16th birthday with me! The first day we kissed was my birthday 😌. We continued to see each other, knowing we wanted to date and be exclusive, but we didn't become a couple until that March 16th. We were in his car driving home when he asked me, and he even talked to my parents! We were each other's first serious relationship. That year, he graduated, class of ‘23. I met his family for the first time at his graduation, and I was the first girl he’d “brought home.” Shortly after, his mom and I became close. I would go over at least once a week to hang out with her, and she would show me her recipes, or we would go out to TJ Maxx! His brother Osvaldo started at CVHS that year, and we became really great friends; we were like brother and sister (I act older 😋). Arturo and I became best friends and inseparable (seriously, ask anyone!). His parents were so kind to me; his mother’s food was AMAZING, his dad was quiet but funny, and his cousins and uncle were very welcoming. Even though he had already graduated, he came to the school in September to ask me to homecoming with the biggest and prettiest sign with a HUGE bouquet of roses! Our first trip together was to Seabrook with him, his brother, Daniella, and my parents. It was so fun, and I really got to know my future brother-in-law and Arturo even better. Shortly after getting back, my dad had his heart attack. Arturo was at the house when it happened… He drove my mom and I to the hospital (Sacred Heart), followed by our neighbor Steve, who also came over and helped my dad. Arturo waited through my dad’s surgery with us and saw my dad after; he knew that I was acting strong, but that I was scared. He comforted me and helped me get my mind off of it (as much as I could). He came to every hospital visit for my dad; he helped around the house; he took care of my mom and I until my dad was able to come home. Once my dad was better, my mom, him, and I went to Seattle to see the tulip fields. We went to Seattle again in August, and he took some of my senior pictures with me, plus we went to our first concert together, Peso Pluma! Senior year started for me, and we were closer than ever. He did everything to make my last year so special with his beautiful Homecoming Hello Kitty poster and his beautiful prom ask for me. He might not have been in high school with me, but he always made it special for us! We went to Disneyland with my parents in November, and he got to see it decorated for Christmas (and for the first time). In April, he welcomed us to Oaxaca, Mexico, where we got to meet his mom’s family. They were the sweetest people, and his Uncle Daniel and Juan Pablo showed us all around Oaxaca! We returned home and got to go to prom together, and I graduated with his brother as class of ‘25. His mom did my graduation cap! For my senior trip, we went to Rome, Italy, and took a cruise to see the Greek Isles! That November, he took me to his cousin’s wedding in Oaxaca (just us). We stayed at his family’s house; his aunts and uncles took great care of us (I never wanted to leave). It was that time we went that I felt like Oaxaca was home for me too. At this time, I had started college (September) for Nursing and Sonography. He has been one of my biggest supporters since the start. He’s always believed in me and reminds me every day he’s proud of me and my journey through school; he is a big part of my motivation to keep going. We went to see my parents’ house in AZ for the first time for spring break, and on March 28th, we drove to Disneyland where we spent the day there, and he proposed to me in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle at sunset!