Jackson and I first met on our very first day as freshmen at Calvin. We ended up in the same orientation group, spending the week doing all the typical freshman activities. Little did we know, we each thought the other was cute—but neither of us made a move. Fast forward to Halloween of that year, Jackson started hanging out with the group of friends I was part of, and we began getting to know each other better. By winter of our freshman year, things shifted. Jackson started flirting with me, and eventually, I flirted back. Our first official date was on January 29, 2022, at Donkey Taqueria, and just a week later, on February 5, Jackson asked me to be his girlfriend! College was an unforgettable experience for us both, filled with so many great memories. Even though we had to navigate long-distance for much of it—Jackson going home to Illinois during summers and me spending four months in Spain—we made it work, growing even closer through the distance. On September 14, Jackson planned a hiking date at Rosy Mounds, near Grand Haven. He seemed extra excited about it, which made me wonder if it was just a hike or something more. Sure enough, when we reached the beach at the end of the trail, Jackson got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was the best day ever! Now, we are beyond thrilled to start this next chapter and can't wait to celebrate with all our favorite people. We look forward to seeing you on August 16!