Neither of us thought much about this at the time, but needless to say, here we are eight years later.

During the summer of 2013, as a rising senior and junior in high school, we met on a school trip to Italy. Even though I knew who he was, we had never spoken to each other. Since there were only twelve students on the trip, we spent a lot of time together. We got to know each other in the cities of Venice, Florence, and Rome, bonding over our love of travel, adventure, the outdoors, and mint chocolate chip gelato.

When we got back from our trip, my mom invited him over for dinner to "catch up and exchange pictures" though unbeknownst to us, she had her matchmaker hat on. Soon after we went on our official first date: roller skating.

Over the next few months we had many adventures: fishing, ice skating, roasting smores, Halloween, and exploring Nashville and Atlanta.

We celebrated some significant events along the way as well...

After my graduation, we revisited our love of international travel and took a trip to Belize where we hiked, zip lined, snorkeled, and ate lots of yummy food!

After our trip, I started my first year of college at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Luckily, we only had one year of long distance until Xander joined me at UAB, where we continued to grow and thrive together both academically and in our relationship. Even though I was a Neuroscience major and he a Biomedical Engineering major, I convinced him to join the University Honors Program (UHP) where we took several classes together. Throughout our time in college, we showed our school spirit by attending football and basketball games and serving as UAB Ambassadors. We went to concerts, explored the city of Birmingham, and, of course, traveled along the way, visiting Chattanooga, Chicago, and Glacier National Park. We made life long friends and amazing memories, and we will forever cherish our time at UAB.

I graduated from UAB in 2018 and started my first year of medical school at UAB. Meanwhile, Xander finished his senior year and graduated in 2019.

After Xander graduated, he landed his first job...in Wisconsin. And so began our eight hundred mile challenge for the next three years as I finish school. But Xander wanted to make sure our relationship was rock solid before he moved...

(Xander's Perspective)

With my forthcoming move, I knew I wanted to "pop the question" beforehand. It was nearing the end of July, and I knew she would soon be starting back with school. I woke up one Saturday and decided that today was the day I would ask her to marry me. I knew how great I felt about our relationship and that there was no better time to propose than now. So, I spent the day planning, preparing, and convincing her to meet me at a location we both love.

There I stood awaiting her arrival at the lake for what was one of the most nerve-wracking and exhilarating days of my life. Taking a subtle touch from the Bachelor, I greeted her with a rose, then walked her to the end of the dock where I would ask her to take a leap and be with me forever. I expressed my excitement from our relationship and that I was ready to take the next step. With the 6 years I had spent with her, I knew she was the one for me and thankfully....she said yes.

Now comes the wait for April 2022, as we each pursue our professional passions, and await the day I get to see her in a white dress again....