We're Getting Married!!

Sean and I met in 2023, and from the very beginning, something just *clicked*. We started talking, and it felt so easy and natural. Our first date was only supposed to last an hour or so, but we ended up talking for hours. By the end of that week, we were officially dating. Just a month and a half later, I left for a mission trip where I had no cell service. Even though we couldn’t talk, I found myself writing down little thoughts, stories, and pictures in my phone, so I could share them with him when I got back. As soon as I crossed the border, I sent it to him. Then all my missed notifications came pouring in and I saw that he had done the exact same thing. I know it sounds a little crazy, but in that moment, I just knew — he was my person. Since then, we’ve shared so many adventures. We’ve danced in the rain, explored new cities, gone to Mardi Gras (twice!), cheered on LSU at games, supported each other through shows, sorority events, road trips, career changes, and so much more. He’s been by my side as I shifted from politics to nursing school, and I’ve been by his side to cheer him on through grad school auditions and his graduation from LSU. One of my favorite memories? The LSU vs. Ole Miss game in October 2024. LSU won, and the field was flooded with thousands of fans. Even though we started out on opposite sides of the stadium, somehow even in that massive crowd I found him. All I wanted in that moment was to share it with him, and there he was. And then, of course, there was the day he proposed. On the beach where we took our very first trip together, he asked me to spend forever with him. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. I remember jumping on him from excitement and he had to hold me up as the waves kept coming. I feel incredibly lucky to be building this life with someone who is not only my partner but my very best friend. I can't wait for everything the future holds for us.

Before I met Mary Ann, I thought that I knew what love truly meant. When I was in college, I witnessed my friends maintain relationships around me. Some succeeded, and some failed, and my quiet observations had led me to the conclusion that I knew what love meant. Sitting here now, I could not have been more wrong. I think that the beauty of love is that in that moment of supposed complacency, it sends you someone who completely changes your comfortable view of love. Meeting Mary Ann was like instantly meeting a new best friend. From the second I saw her, I was instantly intrigued. My intrigue turned to a crush, probably within the first real text she sent me: something to the effect of “what are you looking for, I’m tired of wasting my time.” Our dates were like talking to someone I had known my whole life, which was extremely new. Perhaps the most terrifying thing about this “talking stage” was that, for the first time I could remember, someone I was interested in actually wanted to spend time with me. She was suggesting dates, and we went to movies, operas, and Canes. Since then, we have had the opportunity to figure out what love means to each other. Through thick and thin, we have continued to build a fantastic relationship. She means so much to me, and I have been so lucky to have her. Mary Ann was not just a fantastic girlfriend. She was a fantastic companion. Through loss, pain, and every heartbreak, she was there. Not only was she there, but she would dedicate her time and energy to ensure that I felt okay. Knowing Mary Ann is knowing that everything will be okay, regardless of the obstacles in our path. Mary Ann is also the strongest person that I know. She constantly surprises me with her resilience, strength, intelligence, and ability to persevere through any situation. Through her example, I am constantly inspired to improve myself. Her uniquely beautiful approach to life has been a joy to be alongside. I feel so happy to have met my forever best friend.