Justin and Clara both went to Biola, studying Elementary Education. Despite having almost every single class together, they rarely ever spoke (except for the occasional hello) until the very last month of their college career. Their friend set them up on a mutual date one month before graduation. While both said no at first, they reluctantly agreed to go on just "one date." Little did they know that the Lord had other plans for them... They immediately hit it off and quickly scheduled a second.... third.... and fourth date. The week after was finals week, where Justin and Clara went on daily "study break" walks around Biola, which always turned into hour-long conversations (Clara's friends said they knew she was smitten when she was going on long walks with a boy instead of studying for her finals). The day before graduation, Justin asked Clara to be his girlfriend, and she said yes! Though Clara adamantly insisted she would never date during college, she ended up starting a relationship with a Biola boy on her very last day of school (#almostmadeit). In their 15 months of dating, Justin and Clara graduated from college together, went through student-teaching, managed to endure 4 months of long distance AND a 16-hour time difference, started a master's program and new job, went on many adventures, and had lots of laughs and tears together. After making it through many crazy life changes, they felt that the Lord was bringing them closer to each other and closer to Him through it all. This made them think, "if God has already grown us so much in so many different seasons of life, how much more could He do in the future?" Both of them started praying for God's guidance as they began to consider their possible future together. After months of prayer, they eventually both felt the Lord clearly saying "yes" to next steps, and Justin proposed to Clara on August 2nd. Since then, they have continued to grow together and enjoy this new season of engagement as they eagerly anticipate the joy of making a covenant before God this June!