Our Story

Question

The Beginning

Answer

It all began back in high school. Valerie was a freshman, and Dakota was a sophomore. Right before summer break, our school hosted an AP/Honors Night — a time when incoming students would pick up their summer homework packets to prepare for the year ahead. Valerie went with her uncle Ignacio, who’s just a year older than her and was also starting Honors classes that year. During his freshman year, Ignacio had become friends with a guy named Dakota — they had a class together and gradually got closer. That night, Ignacio mentioned his friend would be there too and told him to come meet up. That’s when Dakota and Valerie first met. Valerie remembered thinking he was so cute. They were introduced, talked a little, and exchanged Kik usernames (remember Kik?). That was the start of something special. They chatted throughout the summer, slowly getting to know each other. When the new school year started, they kept talking and became good friends. There was definitely some flirting — they went through the typical “talking stage,” but stayed in that in-between space for a while. Their first date was a simple coffee date at Starbucks, and they still remember how excited (and nervous) they both felt. Then, before Valerie's sophomore year and Dakota’s junior year, he officially asked her to be his girlfriend. And from that moment on... the rest is history.