Grant did his undergraduate research in the Bradham lab at Boston University, where I did my master’s. We had worked together on a project for 5 months but never interacted beyond that. Close to my graduation, I approached Grant after a lab lunch. - You wanna go get a bubble tea on Newbury? - Nah I have basketball with my roommates later. The end. Just kidding there was more. I asked for a second time. - How about the store down the block? - Hmmmmm I’m not sure… The end. I don’t know what got into me but I persisted. - It will be quick! I don’t wanna go by myself! - Ok ok, but I need to leave for basketball in 15. Ha. Basketball. We ended up talking for 3 hours, and everyday after that.

As a junior in college, I joined the research lab that Yi was finishing her master’s in. We started out strictly professional doing our day-to-day work with only occasional conversations. As time went on though, we slowly opened up to each other, and I began to see how amazing Yi was. Yi, being the more outgoing of the two of us, asked to get boba after a lab outing one day. Shy and panicked, I tried to find an excuse to run away. Lucky for me, she was not discouraged and we had the best boba ever. Since then we really hit it off, spending all day together embarking on new adventures, sharing thoughts and views, understanding our cultural differences, and getting to know and love each other’s family and friends. It did not take long for me to realize that I want every day, week and year to be spent with this girl. After finding the perfect ring, which she “casually” hinted at, and nervously carrying it around for weeks looking for the perfect timing, I proposed in the mountains of New Hampshire. Kneeling next to her with nonsense coming out of my mouth and tears filling my eyes, I never knew I could feel so much all at once. She said yes, and I became the happiest man in the world.