Sam and I first met in 2020 during our senior year of high school. He attended Edwardsville, and I was a student at Highland. Sam played for the Edwardsville boys' volleyball team, which hosted an annual co-ed tournament fundraiser. A mutual friend invited me to play, and by chance, Sam and I ended up on the same team.

We didn’t talk much that day, but at the end of the tournament, Sam asked for my Snapchat—like a typical high school boy. Over the next few weeks, we got to know each other over our phones, exchanging endless conversations.

Eventually, Sam asked me on an official date. He picked me up, insisted on meeting my mom, and took me to Bella Milano for dinner.

Not long after, we started dating and spending more time together. When the pandemic hit, our relationship became a mix of FaceTime calls and endless texting until we could finally see each other in person again.

Even before we met, our college plans were set—Sam was heading to Mizzou in Columbia, Missouri, and I was attending Maryville University in Chesterfield, Missouri. We decided to try long distance, but with COVID protocols in place, we both came home most weekends to see each other.

At the end of my freshman year, I realized Maryville wasn’t the right fit for me. Transferring wasn’t easy, but after exploring other options with no luck, I decided to look into Mizzou despite my reluctance to "follow my boyfriend." When all the pieces fell into place for a smooth transition, my mom reassured me that everything was happening for a reason. In the end, I knew it was the right decision.

Starting our sophomore year, Sam returned to Mizzou, and I joined him there. We embraced all the fun traditions and experiences with our friends, making the most of our college years together.

In the summer of 2022, Sam landed an internship in Wisconsin, keeping him away for nearly the entire summer. Meanwhile, I babysat, worked at Northside Dairy Haven, and spent countless hours on FaceTime with him.

We both returned to Mizzou for our junior and senior years, continuing to grow together and make unforgettable memories. During this time, Sam participated in an engineering co-op in St. Louis and even bought a house in Bethalto, Illinois—our future first home together. I spent my time in classrooms, observing and completing my student teaching in second grade. Between our studies, we soaked up every moment of college life with our friends.

In May 2024, I graduated from Mizzou with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and moved back home to prepare for my first year of teaching Kindergarten. Sam had one semester left, so I wasn’t expecting a ring until after his graduation.

But in August—just one week before I started my career—Sam had a surprise planned. He arranged a family dinner at Bella Milano, and afterward, we went back to his childhood home for dessert. He led me down to a sunflower patch he had planted in March “for dove hunting” and suggested we check on their progress. As we walked into the patch of flowers, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. A photographer captured the entire moment, and when we returned to the house, our family and friends were waiting to celebrate with us.

Since then, Sam has graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Electrical Engineering and started his full-time job with a consulting company in Clayton, Missouri. We have embraced this new season of life and are enjoying going on walks, playing pickleball, watching movies, and working on house projects together more than ever. Aside from all the wedding planning, we are still always laughing together, making new memories, and continuing to grow in our relationship.

We cannot wait to celebrate with everyone on July 12th!