David and Ava met as teenagers at Marshall Fundamental in Pasadena, where they both attended high school. During junior year, Ava and David often crossed paths in Christian Club and Liberty Club. Ava voiced appreciation to her friends at having someone like David, who echoed her values. Between club meetings and shared ideals, their friendship grew.

Then came lockdown, and David took the opportunity to pursue a further relationship with Ava. As a ploy to get to know her better, he asked Ava a seemingly innocent question: “Do you play chess?” Ava, brimming with confidence, declared she was pretty good. What she didn’t know was that David had spent his childhood training and competing in chess tournaments. Needless to say, she received a humbling lesson on the chessboard.

Spring of 2021 brought their first official date—a walk to In-N-Out followed by watching Inception. Not long after, David asked Ava to Prom. The glamorous event took place in the Marshall Fundamental quad, featuring no dancing (a fact David didn’t mind) and a 45-minute slideshow. Despite the lack of traditional prom fanfare, it marked the beginning of something special.

Their relationship continued to blossom as they learned more about each other’s spiritual lives and values. On June 12th, 2021, during a date to the Norton Simon Museum, David and Ava decided to take the next step in their journey together, and officially became a couple following their acceptance to UCLA for the fall.

At UCLA, they tackled new challenges while supporting each other’s ambitions. Ava switched from Applied Mathematics to Mathematics of Computation, while David transitioned from Political Science to Economics with a minor in Accounting. Between grabbing late-night snacks at the Study and going to the BFit together, they grew even closer, building a partnership rooted in faith, shared values, and love for each other.

After around three years of dating, David proposed to Ava on September 20th, 2024, at the Arboretum, a moment filled with joy and gratitude. They’re thrilled to begin this new chapter together and feel incredibly blessed by the Lord for the journey that brought them here.