So, I guess my first time “seeing” Julia was when my roommate Ishola and I were going to go play basketball. Someone yelled Ishola’s name, and out came this group of girls from this dark entryway. For the few minutes Ishola stood there, only one of those girls shook my hand and maintained eye contact, and that was Julia.

Anyhow, fast forward to the first time we actually talked, maybe a few weeks later, Ishola decided to throw a “get together” with all the *ahem* non-Americans. Apparently, the girls that came running up to Ishola that one night were going to be there too. Later that evening my beer was empty, so I did what any normal person would do and turned to get another one out of the fridge. That’s when it happened: this random girl headbutts my elbow so hard she gets a bloody nose. And so, instead of my beer, I went to grab paper towels to prevent this girl from bleeding out in my living room. Now… I know what you’re thinking, what about my elbow? Why isn’t anyone getting me an ice pack? Both very good questions, I couldn’t straighten my arm for a week, but it was worth it. Julia and I ended up talking till she had to leave because it was past my bedtime. (Then I finally got my ice pack).

Few weeks later we were all invited to a Thanksgiving party. Ishola and I were playing pool when I noticed Julia doing homework while everyone else was having fun. I should’ve gone and gotten her, but those French people were darn good at pool, and I had to stay focused or I’d be hearing it the rest of the night. As the night went on, so did many failed attempts to get her attention. Finally, as the night was coming to an end, there were two cars taking us to campus, and Julia's was one of them. So, while my other two roommates took the first one back, I found a vacuum to make it seem like I couldn’t leave. Here I was, busy “vacuuming” the floor of this place I’ve never been to before, when Julia finally finishes what she was doing, and I ask for a ride back. The car was cold, so naturally I took the blanket from Julia’s seat and put it around my shoulders because I was “chilly.” We chatted on the way back and I walked her home, “forgetting” to give her blanket back. When I got back to my apartment, I dropped off the blanket and ran back over to Julia’s in a T-shirt so I could get her number with the intention to text her to “find a good time to return her blanket.” Yep, smooth is my middle name. It worked. Soon after, we went on a very romantic date to this fine establishment called Culver’s. Now, after a year and some change, we’re getting married.

Fall 2022 my roommate and I were walking to our car when she spotted Ishola, a friend from France, who was with his roommate on the way to play some 1v1 basketball. Looking back, I’m not sure if it was because of his stature, demeanor, or dashing mustache—probably a mix of all three—but I was starstruck by Ishola’s friend, and immediately got flustered. The entire car ride following the short interaction, I couldn’t get over the giddiness. Overall, despite having little to no real interaction with him, that’s when I first started falling for Drake Recob.

Fast forward a few weeks, it’s early November, and my roommate and I are invited to Ishola’s apartment for a little party. I hadn’t seen Drake in over a month because he was always “too busy” to go out, and I wasn’t sure if the same sparks would be flying. As the night progressed, I kept sneaking glances at Drake, who was immersed in a debate about football with his friend while I was caught up in my own conversation with my back to the fridge. A bit later, little did I know that Drake came up behind me to grab a drink. He went to close the fridge door just as I went to turn around when his elbow connected with my face, giving me a bloody nose. Next thing I knew, there was a worried face in front of me, Kleenex being shoved into mine, and I was soon engulfed in an awkward hug. Drake never missed a weekend get together again after that.

For Thanksgiving, my roommate threw a party, and even though I was preoccupied most of the night with exams, I couldn’t help but be aware of what Drake was up to (he was struggling at pool). That evening, he, being ever so helpful, decided to stay back with my roommate and I to clean up. Afterwards, he and some other friends piled into my car to get back to campus. It was a cold night, and Drake, per usual, didn’t bring a jacket. As such, he asked me to borrow the blanket I keep in my car to stay warm on his way back to his place. 5 minutes after I got home, there’s a knock on my door, and a cold Drake on my doorstep, blanketless. Nonchalantly he tries to smoothly ask for my number, claiming he’d need it to set up a time to give my blanket back. I tried to play it cool, but inside I was so excited! After that, we started going on a few dates, and Drake finally asked me to be his girlfriend the weekend before Christmas break. I had no idea that only a year and 2 months full of amazing memories later, Drake would take me on a day trip to Door County, and that he would propose to me, making me the happiest person ever. <3