The tale of Samstance ( Samuel + Constance) began in the back row of Intro to Political Philosophy during Sam’s Sophomore year, and Constance’s Junior year in college. Sam sat eating a pear next to friends Julian and Josh, wiping the sleep from his eyes as the 9 am lecture began. At 9:15, as usual, Constance sauntered in lugging a heavy backpack, and took the only remaining seat in the back next to Sam. Constance unpacked her bag, removed a notebook, and promptly began falling asleep (she is not an early riser, nor, in fact, a night owl). Just as the routine had gone over the course of the semester, Sam poked her awake throughout the lecture. Although comical, it would be a stretch to call their relationship a friendship at this stage. In fact, because of her classroom habits, Sam desperately did not want Constance to join his study group with Julian and Josh. Ironically, Constance did better in the course. The next semester, Constance went abroad to China, and the two drifted out of one another’s lives. Then, in mid-May, 2018, Sam saw Constance again at the university gym. They were on the same dance team, and Sam invited Constance to his upcoming birthday party with the other members of the team that remained on campus. Constance organized a surprise birthday cake for the event, which she hoped to split the cost for with the rest of the party-goers. Much to her dismay at the time, she had to cover the entire expense. The returns on this investment, however, would soon become evident. At the party, Constance and Sam danced together and laughed with friends, the budding of a new summer romance. On June 6th, Constance and Sam went on their first date. Six years from the date of Sam’s birthday party in 2018, Sam would propose to Constance at the location of that first date, and where they shared their first kiss, at Short Beach in Branford, Connecticut. They will marry in the presence of God and their loved ones on June 6, 2025, seven years after embarking on their college summer romance which to their delight, developed into so much more.