I first met Maia at our Colorado Stanford admit reception, and like all Colorado kids, we planned a group 14er a few weeks later. We chatted a bit on the hike, but with so much excitement meeting all the admits in our group, I wished we had gotten to talk more.

Lucky for me, we both landed a room on the same floor of the new (10-story) dorm our junior year, and I nervously asked her out to coffee. Over coffee and a chai latte, I learned that she was not only extraordinarily beautiful, smart, and friendly, but inspiring, outdoorsy, caring, and silly, too.

We scheduled a second date, which was (of course) a hike! I cherished every second I spent with her on that hike, but also I was dripping sweat on the uphills because, unbeknownst to me, she was actually a mountain goat.

We've been hiking through life ever since :)

We first met at the Stanford reception for early admits in Colorado. I remember seeing him and thinking that he was SUPER cute, and we chatted for a little while during the reception. The next time I saw him was when the Colorado Stanford crew hiked Mt. Sherman the summer before college started. I remember two things from that hike: first was that he was always toward the very front of the line & second was that he was wearing this HUGE hat. I still love looking back at those pictures!

After that, I only saw him on and off freshman year. He was in the Arroyo dorm, and I had some close friends in Arroyo, so I'd see him around there. We'd say hi, but that was the extent of it. (Still thought he was cute, though)!

Finally, my stroke of luck came junior year when we were allowed to return to campus after Covid-19. Not only was he living in the same dorm as I was, but he was living on the same FLOOR! Our first "date" (we weren't calling it a date at the time but it definitely was) was at Coupa cafe, and we talked about hiking for a long time. So, of course, our first OFFICIAL date was a hike at Windy Hill! We still go back there to hike from time to time, and it brings back all the mems. J officially asked me to be his girlfriend on a bench in Arastradero Preserve.

The rest of college was filled with endless laughter and hiking and smoothies and hiking and late night meals at suites and more hiking! (And he even wrote some poems for me - how sweet is that?!) Post-college, we went on a trip to France and Germany, then moved in together.

He proposed a year later at that same bench where he first asked me to be his girlfriend (so romantic!!!). It was the cutest - he had his friends go up there beforehand to set up a picnic blanket and snacks. It was everything I could have ever dreamed of.

J, you are the most amazing, brilliant, handsome, kind, & supportive man and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you :)