First comes school, then comes marriage. Lesson learned: we’re meant to be.

I always think about the first day Sam and I met, September 30, 2019. We were both at La Sierra University working on our nursing prerequisites. It was my first time away from home, and I felt so nervous not knowing anyone. I had an 8AM microbiology class and sat near the front on the right so I could focus and so no one would talk to me (lol). I remembered my seat because I was next to “the super tall guy who smiled a lot.” The first week flew by, and I thought I had made it through without being noticed. I settled into a routine: microbiology, then a quick walk to developmental psychology. But during the second week, that same tall guy next to me turned and said, “Hi, I’m Sam. Do you have D-psych with Dr. Kim? You sit in the front there too, huh?” I honestly don’t remember what I said, I just remember briskly walking to class. Then, just as I got to the building, I heard him call out, “Wait! Since we have to form study groups, do you mind giving me your number so we can meet up sometime?” At the time, I was just excited to be making a new friend… but looking back, he was definitely asking for my number! A year and a half later, we were texting all the time and figuring out when we could see each other. We reconnected at Hulda Crooks Park in Loma Linda, where our relationship really began on March 28, 2021. And now, just like that, here we are starting our lives together!

It was September 30, 2019, at La Sierra University. I had just returned from my mission trip and was both nervous and excited to start classes again and meet new people. Microbiology was the class we both had, and it happened to be at 8 AM. I remember the first day of class. I sat off to the right side near the front, looking around at all the new faces when I noticed Julia. She sat across the aisle from me, wearing a black Nike long sleeve with shorts. She was nervously looking through her backpack while also trying to make sure her glasses didn't fall off. I didn't want to say or do anything because I didn't know if she had a group or someone she was waiting for. But when she looked up and caught me looking at her, I couldn't help but smile and wave. When class finished and I was making my way to my next developmental psychology class, I looked up to see the cute glasses girl walking in the same direction. Lucky for me, she was also in my next class. The first week flew by, and I still didn't see anyone sitting by her, so I planned my next move for the following week. After the first class the next week, I decided to go up to her. I remember word for word what I said, since I had been practicing it over the weekend. It went something like this: "Hi, my name is Sam. I believe we have this class and D-psych together. Both classes seem like they're going to be very hard, and I'm relatively new to the area. I was wondering if I can have your number for any questions I might have or if I need a study buddy?" I could tell by her face that she may have comprehended about half of that. She simply replied with, "Hi, I'm Julia, and yes, that sounds like a good idea." In my head, I was happy it worked since my true intention was just to get her number. From the beginning, I always told Julia my favorite part about her were her eyes, and seven years later, that still hasn't changed. Throughout the quarter, Julia and I spent quality time together. I would often take her out for boba or to the movies, but that next step never happened. Then, COVID hit, and we went our separate ways until one day she wished me a happy birthday. I had put my birthday in her planner during one of our late-night library study sessions. From there, we reconnected and met at Hulda Crooks Park in Loma Linda, where we both shared how we believed the next step in this relationship was dating. And now, here we are, about to start the next step in this relationship once more.