The summer we met was already filled with high expectations. We were preparing to start our college journeys: a girl from Corpus Christi, Texas and a boy from Lincolnwood, Illinois. Once again it was time for band camp, but this time it was special. It was our first year playing trombone for the Band of the Fighting Irish at the University of Notre Dame. We met on the first day of band camp sitting in the grass, in a circle, doing ice breakers with our soon-to-be friends from all over the country. "I thought he was sweet and obviously super smart." "I thought she was funny and full of energy." Many laughs, practices, and adventures later in our friendship grew to something more. Being with each other was exciting, awkward, hilarious, fun, calm, and then romantic. Two years later in 2014, we began dating and have been together ever since.

"Kevin woke me up that morning and said he wanted to take me to a park he found nearby. When I suggested we go get coffee first and he insisted we had to go to the park first I was instantly suspicious. I quickly painted my nails, just in case, and we left." "Everything was going smoothly. I was pretty confident that she had no idea what was going on. I had already asked Candace's mother for permission, I had the ring with me, and now we were at the place I had picked out, Denman Estate Park in San Antonio, a hidden gem of a park with a nice pond and a colorful Korean pavilion. Candace and I walked the trail, went up to the pavilion, admired all of the ducks, and then we stopped by the water. We faced each other. I took out a poem which I had written myself, and I read it to her. Then I got the ring out and asked her to marry me." "I said yes." (There may have been some crying.)