The first time that I saw Rebecca Murgia, I was sitting on a Zoom call at home. I was the Teacher Assistant (TA) of a class at Temple University and found myself helping to fix Rebecca's computer so that she could take a test. It was my first semester, and my first real challenge as a TA: impressing a girl who I thought was quite cute! I didn’t think too much of our interaction. Except, Rebecca sent me an email afterwards thanking me for helping. She was the only student that sent me a thank you email out of all 6 semesters that I was a TA, and that left an impression.

Fast forward to the following semester, I received an email for work. It was an introduction to none other than Rebecca Murgia! Turns out, my good looks convinced her to transfer majors to MIS (opinions may vary), and I had the privilege of helping her apply for a scholarship. I was driving at the time, and on seeing that the scholarship was due that same night, I opted to ask for her phone number. I thought this would be easier than emailing back and forth. I helped her finalize the application but noticed that the conversation started to get more friendly, so I decided to keep the conversation going! Rebecca had asked me if I went to the Temple Catholic Newman Center, the Catholic Church on campus. I responded and said, “Yes!” I always loved talking with people about the Newman Center, and to meet another MIS student who was Catholic was refreshing! Hoping I’d be able to help her become more involved, I invited her to come to a weekly clean up.

When Rebecca walked in the door of the Newman Center for that cleanup … well, I realized that I was getting more than I bargained for! Rebecca sure did catch my eye, and I was careful not to let myself lead her on. But the uplifting North Philly trash clean up vibe has a strange effect on people; we found ourselves talking the whole cleanup! Rebecca even stuck around after the cleanup to get whooped in Pool a few times! I knew she was into me! So, naturally, I gave her a fist bump on the way out.

As I was getting on the train just a few minutes later, I let myself think about how much I enjoyed our conversation. How much I really liked playing pool with her. How I thought she was beautiful! Almost immediately, I cringed at the fist bump. How could I!? I texted her that minute, thanked her for coming, and invited her to the next one. To my delight, she happily accepted.

We kept texting throughout the next few weeks, getting together a few more times. I knew it was time to ask her on an official date. Luckily, Becky made it easy for me. One night, I asked her if she had anything going on during the following week. She responded with “I’m free Friday & Saturday!” At this point, I was locked in – clarifying my question would result in embarrassment for both of us. So, I went along with it! “Saturday works for me. Want to go to Pietros? I have a gift card there.” Now it was my turn to fumble. A gift card?? Bruh.

The date went perfectly! We had a great time and found ourselves to be the last people in the restaurant. We continued to date for the next month, and I asked Becky to be my girlfriend on May 20th, 2021. We continued to grow closer, and on August 28th, I told her I loved her while we were in Dilworth Park, Philadelphia. Almost 2 years and 4 months later, at the same spot I told her I loved her, I asked Becky to spend the rest of her life with me. She said YES!

The first time I saw Connor McShane was in a zoom class. I remember thinking "Wow this guy is so CUTE and he’s the class tutor, so he must be smart!" I spent the whole semester admiring this “zoom crush” of mine, thinking “There’s no way I’ll ever meet him or that he’s Catholic.” One class period my computer was having an issue with the online test proctoring service, so I had to spend the whole class period online with the professor, Connor, and the other ITA. Connor volunteered to stay after class to help me. I thought he was so sweet! Aside from a little bit of small talk, nothing else happened.

Fast forward to winter break, when my family spent a bit of time at our house in Matlacha, FL. We had been watching the TV show “The Bachelor''. One night while on vacation, we went out to Bert’s Bar for a few drinks, and all decided it would be fun to pick our own “Final Four’s.” I ended up putting Connor on my list as one my final four! My family laughed saying how, “You'll never see that guy again.” I agreed that it was a far reach, but I knew that there was something about him that felt different than any other crush.

Fast forward again to Spring Semester, I was having difficulties uploading a resume to my “e-portfolio”. So, I reached out to a course department member who replied, “I’ve cc’d Connor McShane. He is one of our pro ambassadors and can help you get it uploaded.” My heart dropped! I was thinking, "Wait, I know him!" Connor kept things very professional, solved my problem and then emailed, “Let me know if you ever have any other questions.” I knew I was not gonna let it die, so I came up with another question. He gave me his number, and we started talking and realized we were both a part of the Temple Catholic Newman Center, the Catholic Church on campus. A week or two later he invited me to a “Newman Center cleanup” (picking up trash outside of the building in North Philadelphia). I thought “Oh my gosh!!!! I’m gonna get to meet him!! He wants to meet me!” I spent longer than usual picking out the pair of leggings and the 1/4 zip that I’d wear. I remember walking through the doors of the Newman Center and seeing Connor look up at me. Wow! He was even cuter in person! We spent the majority of the cleanup together and played a game of pool with some friends afterwards. After leaving the cleanup, we walked about 2 blocks before saying goodbye. He turned to me, said “Well this is me,” gave me a fist bump, and that was it. I thought it was over for sure. No way a guy who likes me would give me a fist bump. I drove home feeling disappointed. Arriving back home, like an answer to prayer, there was a text from Connor thanking me for coming that day, saying that he had a lot of fun, and that we should do it again sometime. Wow! Not over!! The next two times we got together we planted flowers at the Newman Center - just the two of us. Casual and fun, we got to know each other a bit. Then, Connor asked me out on a date!

I said yes immediately! I had actually never been on a date before. I always said no to guys because I knew I couldn't see a future or that it wouldn't work in the long-run. So, I was very excited!! We went to an Italian restaurant called Pietros in Rittenhouse on April 24, 2021. It was absolutely perfect! We had so much fun and even ended up being the last two in the restaurant. I thought to myself, “Oh my gosh, I think he’s the one!” He asked me to be his girlfriend on May 20, 2021. On July 18th, 2021, I left home to spend a month in Florida and remember driving away missing him so much and I knew it... I loved him. On August 28, 2021 we said “I love you” to each other. That night, I asked him when he first started falling in love with me. Without hesitation he said April 24th, our first date. That same night, I told him about the slightly embarrassing “final four” story. He thought it was cute and said that I’d be in the championship. On December 22, 2023, he asked me to marry him! And of course, I said YES!