Our journey began in the spring of 2016, during our freshman year of college. Vanessa had just joined the Honors Alliance organization, and Fernando had started working in the Honors Alliance office as a student worker. During that semester, we crossed paths several times, exchanging short conversations and simple hellos.

As the months went by, we found ourselves spending more time in the Honors Alliance office—studying for midterms, working on lab reports, juggling homework, and in Fernando’s famous words, “Vanessa being bossy and making me do things for Honors Alliance.” Slowly, those brief interactions blossomed into genuine friendship. Study breaks turned into shared laughter over YouTube videos, N*SYNC throwbacks from Vanessa, and Fernando’s memes.

Over time, we realized how much we had in common. We were two determined kids navigating a new chapter, chasing our dreams while carrying the hopes and sacrifices of our families. Amid the chaos of college life, we found comfort in each other. Whether it was late-night chats at Whataburger or peaceful drives to the countryside to gaze at the stars, those quiet moments revealed our hopes, goals, missteps, and the deeper layers of who we were.

In October 2017, Fernando finally asked Vanessa out on a date—though technically, it was the second time. The first time, Vanessa thought he was joking because it all felt too good to be true. But this time, she knew it was real.

From there, life moved quickly. We introduced each other to our families and friends. Vanessa’s family instantly adored Fernando, and welcomed him with open arms. Fernando’s family did the same, making Vanessa feel she always had a home away from home.

Over the past seven years, we’ve grown alongside one another—supporting each other through every success, challenge, and late-night work session. While Vanessa worked tirelessly to get into PA school, Fernando navigated the beginnings of his corporate career. Through it all, and by the grace of God, we became each other’s biggest cheerleaders, partners, and best friends.

In 2020, Fernando bought us our first home—a place where we started building our life together and where we welcomed our beloved dog, Captain Pierce. This house became our sanctuary, filled with laughter, holidays, dinner parties, and cherished memories, including the first time the Andrada and Picazo families came together to celebrate as one.

On May 11th, 2024, during our first solo vacation to Colorado, we found ourselves hiking through a quiet, secluded forest nestled along the mountainside where time seemed to have slowed down around us. Surrounded by nature’s stillness, Fernando proposed to Vanessa!

In that quiet moment—just the two of us, hearts full and the world standing still—we knew with absolute certainty that we were each other’s forever. Vanessa of course, said yes, and in that sacred space, we made a silent promise to walk through life hand in hand.