Dr. Golemo at Iowa State always opens his speech at the first marching band meeting with "You might not realize it, but the person you're going to marry could be in this room right now."

For us, Doc was right about that.

I met Andy at Iowa State. We were both apart of the marching band and a fraternity called Kappa Kappa Psi. At one of the meetings, my friends and I were looking for a potential date for me to bring to the Band Banquet. I had recently went through a break up and they were determined to not let me go to banquet by myself. As we were scrolling through options, trying not to bring attention to ourselves, my friends pulled up Andy and I said "I wouldn't mind him". At the end of the meeting, my friend Christian took it upon himself to make sure Andy and I ended up together. As I watched him approach Andy, I couldn't help but think of how embarrassing it would be if other people had known what was happening. That night, our group chat went on and on about how excited Andy seemed and how cute we would be together.

Andy took me out on my 20th birthday for our first date. I remember him running out of music hall after a drumline rehearsal to ask me out. It was cold, raining, and after 10pm - very dramatic. Our first date was at Perfect Games where we shared pizza and played some really bad mini golf. It was a great time. Since then, Andy and I have grown together by supporting the Cyclones, fishing in the summers, dating long distance for a few years, celebrating new jobs and comforting each other when something didn't go as planned. I couldn't imagine not having Andy by my side.

After our first date, I fell in love with Andy fast. He quickly turned into everything I didn't know I needed. He cares for me, can make me laugh, is passionate about his work, and is never afraid to try something new (unless its to check out a scary movie). Andy is someone that everybody loves and I get to call him mine. Life is better with him.

Iowa State Marching Band banquet 2017 was on the horizon and I needed a date. My friend, and fellow brother in Kappa Kappa Psi, Christian Loaiza, approached me one night and tipped me off that this girl on the cymbal line, Kristi, was interested in potentially going with me. Lo and behold, it was the same girl that I had recently mentioned how good looking she was to my good friend Jacob Ross.

Christain's tip gave me the confidence I needed.

One rainy night, I was sitting inside music hall surrounded by a group of friends. I saw Kristi walk by our table and out the doors. It didn't take long for me to realize that this was the perfect opportunity for me to ask her out.

I sprinted outside after her and asked for her phone number and if she would be interested in going out on a date sometime. She said yes, we parted ways, and I ran back inside to excitedly proclaim that she said yes. I was a little wet, but I was elated!

Our first date was on October 8th, 2017... yes, on her birthday! We went to Perfect Games for pizza and mini golf. It was a terrible mini golf course, but we made the most of it and we at least had good company!

We spent the next couple weeks getting to know each other better. Halloween was approaching and I had learned that Kristi really enjoyed going to haunted houses. So, naturally, we went on a date to the Haunted Forest in Ames!

While we were waiting in line to enter, an elementary-aged girl waiting near us was peppering me with needless questions and observations. Then she asked the only question I hoped she wouldn't... "Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend?"

In my mind, I was thinking "One slip up here and you're toast." Sure, we were dating, but Kristi and I hadn't yet talked about putting THE label on our relationship. We weren't Facebook official yet!

I nervously answered the girl and told her that yes, we were boyfriend/girlfriend.

Kristi and I talked about it later that night and cemented that we were in fact boyfriend/girlfriend.

In some ways, that little girl did me a lot of favors by asking that question. She jump started our relationship. In the Fall of 2017, not only did I find my date to band banquet, I also found my forever date :)