Everyone always says "Timing has to be perfect" and that is exactly what was needed for our story.

Gersen and Juliana's paths started crossing in the sixth grade, when they started going to school together. However, they did not start seeing each other every day in classes until eight grade German.

German classes continued all into high school along with overlapping soccer and refereeing activities. All during this time they remained friends and classmates.

During senior year in high school, Juliana encouraged Gersen to ask her out to prom. Gersen LOVED this idea and asked her out by spelling 'PROM' in homemade soft pretzels. We had a great time at prom (Gersen still talks about how Juliana spent all night on the dance floor and left him to his own devices).

Following high school graduation, we both continued our education at Georgia Southern University where our paths continued to cross. Whether seeing each other on campus or helping each other with classes (Gersen tutoring Juliana in math).

Gersen graduated college in 2019 and moved to Memphis, TN. Meanwhile, Juliana graduated in 2020 and moved to Charleston, SC for two years. After some time away from Georgia, we both decided it was time to come back.

May of 2023, Gersen was volunteering at an event Juliana's work was putting on in Alabama where they saw each other again after multiple years. This started on and off communication between us with frequent check ins and conversations.

Friendly conversations continued until Gersen came to Juliana's apartment with a surprise present, yogurt and bandaids, following her first jaw surgery and they sat and talked on the couch until three in the morning.

They became inseparable then and their romantic relationship and journey officially began! Gersen asked Juliana to be his girlfriend on April 10th, 2024 and the rest is history!

We both now know, that we had to explore life and grow personally before we could come back into each other's lives and we wouldn't change a thing.

G&J