In 2014, I met Ross at a pool party, and we talked for hours. I left without even knowing his name. I finally did learn my new friend's name, and then months later, all of the sudden, he sat next to me in almost all of our classes (being clueless, I thought he just wanted to sit next to his friends who also sat next to me). Ross asked for my number, we texted every day, and in June he asked me out on our first date. June 12, 2015 changed my life forever, after I said yes to be his girlfriend. We spent the next four years of high school building the foundation of being best friends in love. Growing up with Ross was such a gift.

When I went off to LSU and Ross went to Nicholls, that foundation kept us strong. Even missing him every day made me love him more. Our distance got even bigger when Ross went to med school in Monroe, but I loved every second of cheering him on from afar. I am so very proud of everything he has done. His dedication and caring, brave heart give me reasons to fall in love over again each day.

On December 14, 2024, I got to say yes to Ross again - this time to be his wife! (AKA the best decision of my life) (Again, my clueless brain believed him when he said we had a ballet to get to). And now, almost 10 years later, Ross and I finally get to live together in Baton Rouge! I am overjoyed and blessed to be able to call him my home, my best friend, and my husband.

Chloe and I first met back in 2014 at a pool party. We laughed and joked and had so much fun we forgot to get each other’s names. The moment she left, I felt like I just had to find out more about her. Weeks later, I saw her at the beginning of school and made my move sitting next to her in every class that I could. We eventually exchanged phone numbers and texted each other constantly. June 12th, 2015, I finally worked up the nerve to ask her to be my girlfriend. That phone call was easily one of the most nerve wracking moments of my life!

Fast forward to 2019, I started at Nicholls, and Chloe went to LSU. The reality of going from seeing each other almost every day to every couple of weeks was definitely hard to get used to. In 2023, we both graduated from undergrad and that distance was made further when I started medical school in Monroe and Chloe began her Master of History program at LSU. The distance strengthened our relationship and taught us to cherish every moment we had together.

On December 14th, 2024, weeks of planning culminated with what was almost 10 years in the making when I knelt in front of Chloe and asked her to be my wife. I had managed to convince her that we were going to see a ballet but instead was going to lead her to the front steps of the Old State Capitol. All was going to plan except that I had the ring hidden in the car and Chloe was just sitting in the car not moving. It felt the longest minute of my life, but I had been so nervous that I had forgotten to open the car door for her and realized that had been what she was waiting for! Once we walked up to the spot I had chosen (with our photographer and her husband hiding precariously behind some bushes) I started the speech that I had rehearsed 100 times, but Chloe kept trying to pull my hand for us to keep walking because she thought we were late to meet our friends! When I turned her to face me and started to kneel it all finally clicked into place.

I’m so beyond lucky and thankful to be able to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. I’m unbelievably proud of all that she’s accomplished, and it’s been the joy of my life to grow up alongside her just as our relationship has grown into the beautiful thing that it is today.