It all started in Fall of 2016. Both Stephan and Juli happened to have the same USF orientation weekend, as they both remember the loud and obnoxious guy in the middle of the room (another student who ended up being Stephan's suite mate). They wouldn't know it, but this would be the first time the universe tried to put them together. Safe to say they did not meet each other.

They decided to take the same class together called......

Intro to Humanities

Throughout your first semester in college, you get to meet a lot of people, make friendships and bonds, and start to define who you want to be when you move forward.

The bond between Juli and Stephan did NOT begin here.

Halfway through the semester, Dr. Todd Jurgess of the USF Humanities Department assigned a group project where students were required to work together to interpret a modern work of art. Unbeknownst to them, Juli and Stephan were placed in the same group (along with some other students). They exchanged messages and emails on the school academic site (Canvas) and ended up getting a good grade.

It is of note at this point, that Stephan had seen and recognized Juli regularly in class. He even admits he thought she was cute.

Juli does not remember Stephan at all.

But the story is true, as Juli and Stephan have found the emails and messages back and forth of working on the project together.

Fast-forward to Juli's last semester (Fall 2018, 2 years later)

With the universe unhappy with the previous result of it's master plan, it took no chances in the Fall of 2018.

In a twist of fate (and academic registration) Juli and Stephan would take 3 (Yes 3!) classes together. As they were in similar degree programs, they took Drug Discovery, Biochem Lab, and its corresponding lecture.

In the first week of Biochem Lab, Juli and Stephan were paired in the same group. Unbeknownst to the entire class, this group would be SIGNIFICANTLY smarter than the other group. Also unbeknownst to the entire class, there were 2 Stephans (Yes, 2! With the same spelling), but different last names. After the first week of class and the first experiment, the T.A. for the lab realized that he needed to redistribute the groups, resulting in the separation of Juli and Stephan (c'mon T.A. Ryan 😒).

Juli needed some standard values for the chemicals used in class for her lab report. She turned back to the good ole Trusty Dusty Canvas messaging feature, to message the Stephan that was in her group (not the cool one). The Universe, seeing its chance, flipped the switch, and she ended up messaging the cool Stephan (the one that you know and love) to ask for those values.

In a not-so-cool move, Stephan took 4 days to answer the message.

In a cool move, Stephan gave Juli his number when he responded (stating that he responds faster by text) (pretty smooth, huh 😏).

With Juli and Stephan now having each other's numbers, they began to spend more time together (studying) (and making fun of that one toddler who fell face-first in the library).

About 2 months passed, and Stephan (in all his wisdom) decided to ask Juli if she wanted to go for a ride on his motorcycle (Juli was not a fan of motorcycles at the time). Juli, having never ridden, told Stephan "No, that's how people die".

Not to be discouraged, Stephan offered to drive her around the USF campus for however long she needed, even willing to go through tanks of gas if necessary to make sure she was comfortable on it (as much as possible). He brought her a helmet and told her what to wear so she could be as safe as possible. Juli eventually took him up on the offer and they went for a ride around USF at 25 mph...for an entire hour. At the end of this introductory ride, Stephan offered to take Juli on a group ride with his motorcycle club (not a gang, an actual funded club through USF focusing on the safety of motorcycle riders. Stephan was the treasurer). Juli agreed, and they rode for another 2 hours through winding roads around Northern Tampa Bay.

At the end of the ride, the rest of the motorcycle club decided to go to dinner. Since they were hungry, Juli and Stephan decided to tag along for dinner. The club decided on Hooters. Hooters with a capital "H" (this was decided among helmet communications that Juli was not a part of). In good spirits, the group had chosen to go there as they were the best wings that were by the USF campus (there were not many options). At the end of this dinner, the group commented that Juli and Stephan were a pretty cool couple and that nobody had brought their girlfriend before.

This was NOT something that was discussed between the two, and both awkwardly said that they were not a couple. The table went silent, then someone apologized saying that they noticed the comfort between the two on the ride, assuming they were a couple.

After dinner, Stephan brought Juli back to her dorm. When she got off of the motorcycle, Juli went to give Stephan a hug. Stephan returned the gesture by not removing his helmet, staying on the motorcycle, and initiating a side hug with one arm (real classy).

Stephan did this because he thought that after the ride and dinner that Juli did not find any interest in him, solidified by the fact that she confidently said that they were not a couple.

Juli went upstairs to her room, called her best friend, and was confused as to why she received a such a cold 🥶 goodbye after what she thought was a good night out. Juli had interpreted the comment at dinner to be because this was their first night out with no discussion on any relationship status. Juli was so loud that someone knocked on her door and offered her some Oreos to help with her frustration.

Later in the night, Juli texted Stephan thanking him for the motorcycle ride. Stephan responded with "You're welcome".

The Lab class that Juli and Stephan shared was on Thursday Mornings. Prior to the motorcycle ride, they would talk in the hallway before class. That Thursday morning after, they did not talk. Juli waved at Stephan and he did not notice (he was sad and did not look at her, Juli thinks he saw but ignored her).

Fast-forward 1 week later, Stephan cold-texted Juli out of nowhere while she was busy studying for an exam asking her out for all-you-can-eat Tacos. Juli remembers sitting in the stairwell with her study materials when she got the text and said out loud, "Are you freaking kidding me? Right now?????"

They made plans to go out that following Tuesday. This would be their first real date.

Tuesday rolls around, and they are in Drug Discovery together (the other class they were in). The plan was to take Stephan's Motorcycle back to his place, and then take his car to the Taco Restaurant.

It is important to note that his motorcycle was easily distinguishable by his friends, as he is the only one that had that specific bike.

When class let out, Juli and Stephan walked out to the motorcycle, where Stephan found an index card sitting on the handlebars. The note read (in pink pen with a girl's handwriting)

"Can't wait to see you again. XOXO Rebecca".

Stephan did not know any Rebecca at the time, but Juli did not know that.

This is where it all almost ended. Luckily, Juli gave Stephan the benefit of the doubt (and they technically weren't official yet).

Stephan was trying to think, and then came to the realization that this had to be the work of his roommates. As they pulled back into Stephan's place, Stephan told Juli to wait in the car while he went inside really quick. As he walked into the house, Juli heard him call out his roommates names. Approximately 1.5 minutes later, Stephan came back out to the car with his roommates, who apologized profusely, citing that they knew of the date, how nervous Stephan was, and they couldn't pass up the opportunity for a prank.

Juli, noting the girly handwriting, was a little skeptical, until one of Stephan's roommate's girlfriends came out and admitted her part of the plot.

After arriving at dinner, Juli and Stephan officially got their first date underway. With the opportunity for all-you-can-eat tacos (and two broke college kids), dinner and conversation came naturally between the two. At this date, Stephan recalls that once Juli had ate her 7th taco, he knew that she was the one. Juli knew it too, because any man that wouldn't judge a girl who eats 7 tacos on the first date, was a keeper.

Since that date in November, Juli and Stephan have done a lot of life together.

Between the two of them, both graduated USF with their undergraduate degrees.

Underwent a Pandemic together.

Moved in together.

Faced loss together.

Got Engaged.

Went back to school.

And now get to invite their friends and family to celebrate in the love that they share!

And it all started...with a few chance encounters.