I joke a lot today about the unfortunate circumstance of being a "townee". Growing up in Rolla (a small, nerdy college town) and similarly continuing my education and early career there means that I have a lot of shame when someone asks where I am from. No matter the embarrassment when answering with, "I've never left my hometown", I can at least follow up with my greatest pride: Layla. My story with Layla likely starts before hers does with me. We went to separate elementary schools and later joined classes for middle school and junior high. Layla first caught my eye in seventh grade. Her dark bangs and love for Twenty One Pilots were tantalizing. Why? Because, if you asked her, we really only met in our freshman year of high school, when I said she sounded like a little boy. In other words, she never paid attention to me before high school. We officially met our sophomore year, and I made my feelings for her well known. However, you could say that my heart was on my sleeve when I responded to a Snapchat questionnaire of hers that asked if I liked her with, "yeah a lil". It was sophomore year of high school, in our favorite AP Euro class, when I worked up the courage to be brazenly mean to Layla. We were nearing Court Warming (Sadie Hawkins Dance for the older crowd), and I was listening in on Layla's conversation. Layla - "I sure would love to go to Court Warming" Me - "Layla, it's literally girl-ask-guy, why don't you ask your literal boyfriend to go with you" Layla turned white and looked away - "Oh, we broke up a while ago" Me - "Oh, for real? Guess I'll have to make a move then" ... I was utterly embarrassed at how stupid I made myself look, but she couldn't know that. Several months later, after playing video games, promises of lobster dinner, many videos of me eating fruit and chips, and the occasional "you left me on read", Layla was my girlfriend. Little did I know that the impossibly unattainable, Layla, would become my wife 2,710 days later. There are plenty of stories within those 2,710 days. Many of them are drunk, plain quesadilla stories. More of them than we'd like to admit include our summer job at Splash Zone. Most of all, just about every story showcases Layla's impressive maturity. It's her conviction, her attitude, her ambition, and her passion that really struck home with me. Her conviction. Before we even started dating, Layla told me that she dates to marry. My 16-year-old self was freaking out when I heard that. I laughed to myself, but when I looked her back in the eye, I saw no wavering. That's who she is; Layla knows she is correct, and she doesn't bat an eye. With my horrible knack for arguing, I don't think I could've found a more apt debate partner. Her attitude. Layla—like her whole family—wears her heart on her sleeve. This makes her the most empathetic individual you will ever meet. Layla cries at every wedding she is at (like she can feel the bride's anticipation), she has comforted patients in their sickest times, she turns red in the face when we see high schoolers flirting, and her eyes sparkle and hold firm when she says "I love you". Her ambition. My proudest moment in life was seeing Layla get accepted to her masters program. 5 years ago, Layla told me that she would pursue Psychology and go on to higher education. And just a few months ago, she did just that. Her passion. Layla is unparalleled in her advocacy for the voiceless minority. Day in and day out, she works to bend and create a world for the elderly, individuals with cognitive disabilities, and those with mental health and addiction issues. This is just her professional passion. Each trait that Layla has taught me above would not be possible without her passion. I could write a whole book about Layla, but I am limited to 4,000 characters. So with that, I hope that everyone can see the person that I have grown with, through, and from for the past 2,710 days. Here is to the passionate Layla Mackenzie Insall.

From a young age, I always knew I wanted to be someone who others could turn to, someone who listened, cared, and truly understood them. Maybe it was because it was instinctual for me to comfort people, or maybe I knew what it felt like to be misunderstood myself. I am certain that I still want to be that person; this became clear when I met Sam. He is the person who truly understands me in every way, and because of him, I've become the person I always hoped to be. If you've made it this far, you've probably already read Sam's version of how we met, which, for the record, still makes me laugh and cringe at the same time. Yes, I was mortified in AP Euro, but what he didn't know back then was that, behind my embarrassment, I felt something shift. There was something about this cute, sarcastic boy with dark brown hair and glasses - who had never really spoken to me before - suddenly noticing me, and I haven't stopped noticing him since. For weeks after that interaction, he kept asking me to play video games with him. I thought he was being silly, and I was too shy to actually say yes, until one day, I did. Since that moment, there have been many days filled with laughter, late-night conversations, adventures, and the kind of love that makes every day feel steady and full. There are thousands of stories that make up who we are, but through all of them, Sam has always been the same: humorous, passionate, steadfast, and genuine. His humor. Sam makes me laugh every single day. Even when I'm trying my hardest to stay serious, he'll give me that look, the one with a small smirk that I know means he's about to say something that will crack me up. Whether it's a dramatic made-up story or a ridiculous joke, he always finds a way to make me smile. Even in the darkest moments, he's there to lift me back up with laughter and warmth. He makes ordinary days extraordinary just by finding joy in them, and he has taught me to do the same, to find humor in everything I do and make the world a little brighter because of it. His passion. Sam throws himself wholeheartedly into everything he does, whether it is his hobbies like working out, his career where he's always eager to learn more, or his dreams of making an impact and helping those around him. And in his relationships, his passion shows most clearly; he has always cared deeply for the people he loves. It was one of the first things I fell in love with. His energy and determination are magnetic; he inspires me every day to care as deeply and live as intentionally as he does. His steadfastness. From the very beginning, Sam has been my safe place. Even when we first met, I felt like I could be completely myself around him, no pretending, no holding back, because with him, I felt safe. He is my calm in every storm: unwavering, dependable, and endlessly patient. When I spiral, he steadies me. When I overthink, he reminds me to breathe. Through every season of our lives, Sam has been my constant, my anchor, and my peace. His genuineness. What I love most about Sam is how deeply authentic he is. He has never tried to be anyone other than himself, and that's one of the things I admire most. Who he is with his friends, his family, or strangers on the street is exactly who he is with me. His genuine heart makes everyone feel seen and valued, and I feel so lucky to be the person who gets to experience that every day. I could fill countless pages with stories about us, the laughter, and the small moments that turned into something extraordinary. But if I had to sum it up simply, I would say this: Sam has always understood me. He's made me feel seen, safe, and completely myself since the very beginning. With him, I feel whole, like we were always meant to find each other, to balance and complete one another. Here's to my humorous, passionate, steadfast, and genuine Sam, the boy who embarrassed me in AP Euro, and the man who makes me proud, every single day, to be his forever.