Here's Joaquin's POV: After graduating from Seminary, I was ready to propose, but getting a job was my main focus. Graduating during Covid in 2020 made the search hard. Eventually, I found work at a non-profit. After we moved in together, I saved up enough money to buy an engagement ring, (paid with the stimulus check.) In March, as we planned a beach trip with her friends, I started to plan the proposal. With Hydia’s help, Alexis' friend, I created a plan for her to be involved in the surprise. While Alexis was away in New Orleans, I bought the ring and called her parents, receiving their blessing. On May 1, 2021, after a group breakfast, I teamed up with Alexis' mother and her friend, Arlene, to distract her. With the beach set up ready and her loved ones holding letters spelling "Marry Me," I nervously waited for her to get there. She was so confused and lost about what was happening and all I could do was laugh. lol. I was so nervous but seeing her reaction calmed me down and I laughed and had to tell her to walk over to me so that I could propose lol. It was fun to plan for and I will always remember it. I love you Alexis! Here's Alexis' POV: Talk about a complete surprise! Our friends and family were there to surprise me! I was shopping with my mom and Arlene. While shopping they kept asking me weird questions about my relationship. The one that stuck with me was, "If he were to ask to marry you today, what would you say?" I, of course, said I'd say yes. I thought it was a random question as Arlene and I didn't typically discuss the longevity of my relationships. As we finished shopping and spending quality time together, I asked to head back to the Airbnb to be with everyone. My stomach was hurting terribly. My mom offered to turn the car around to take me to the restroom at her hotel. I stubbornly said, "No, I have a good air freshener in my room!" In hindsight, I should've returned with my mother to use her restroom. So, we arrived at my Airbnb and Hydia was busy rushing me to come to the beach. I told her I had to go to the bathroom! She insisted that I come with her and we could go to the restroom after I checked out something quickly. Naturally, I gave in and followed her to the beach. I said, "Oh, look someone is getting engaged!" Immediately, I recognized that Abi and my friends were holding letters spelling M A R R Y M E! It was simply beautiful and absolutely perfect!

I'd decided to join Bella Voce at Presbyterian College. That was the all girls choral ensemble and essentially all you had to do was sign up and be able to hold a tune to join. I met my first friend, Kierra Hall. She was the only other black girl in the choir and we hit it off immediately. She had a way of bringing people out of their shell. We'd gotten to know each other pretty quickly and she decided she needed to take me out to meet everyone. I accompanied her to the fraternity houses, where I was introduced to the football team and other girls around campus. Joaquin found me in the crowd after checking out all the black freshman girls in my class. He says hello introduces himself and has had a drink (or 2) before he approaches me. Imagine dim lighting and Ice Box by Omarion playing faintly in the background. He started to do the infamous dance that accompanied the song and I recorded everything. We became really close friends following his vulnerable introduction and the rest is history! ♥ LOLOL

I met Alexis a couple times in passing on campus during events and things like that but those don’t count! Our first actual meeting where we had a conversation was in Spring’s gym. I was working out with a friend and Alexis walked in with Kaitlyn, her friend. She walked over to a treadmill and instead of walking on it, she started watching Teen Titans Go! on the TV. So I walked over and started picking on her for watching it and we got to know each other. We slowly built a friendship and eventually started dating the next summer.