It all started at Long Island University, where Sarah played field hockey and Tommy played football. Though we crossed paths on campus, it wasn’t until junior year—after a few strategic Snapchats—that we finally hung out. From that moment on, we never stopped.

We officially got together in May 2019, celebrated the 4th of July side by side, and spent that summer meeting each other’s friends and families. Between hometown visits and late-night convos, we fell even more in love. Senior year brought the transition from Division II to Division I athletics, and we tackled the pressure the way we do best—together.

Then came 2020. As the world shut down, we quarantined together in a dorm room (yes, one room... for weeks). While many might not survive that kind of close proximity, we came out even stronger—bonded by uncertainty, George Foreman grill dinners, and way too much Great British Bake Off.

After graduation, Sarah moved to Connecticut for grad school while Tommy stayed behind to finish his degree. Long-distance during a pandemic wasn’t easy, but we made it work. Eventually, Tommy joined Sarah in Connecticut and we moved into our first apartment—turning a four-wall studio into a home.

Since then, we’ve supported each other through big career pivots: Tommy shifted from the business world to the labor union (and became an MMA fighter and coach—no big deal), and Sarah rerouted from a PhD path to pursue medical school, becoming a published researcher along the way. We’ve celebrated milestones (like upgrading to a two-bedroom apartment—again, no big deal), grieved losses, and taken on the adventure of adulthood hand in hand.

On Christmas Eve 2022, Tommy proposed—and Sarah (without hesitation) said yes. And here we are now: building a life full of love, grit, laughter, and probably still figuring things out as we go. But one thing’s certain: we’ve always been—and always will be—each other’s home.