Meagan and I met for the first time after we were accepted to UCLA. We were invited to a tour of the engineering school and coincidentally sat at the same table for lunch (pictured here with our model, Sweetie). I remember seeing Meagan and thinking how beautiful she was and how I couldn't let myself go on without at least getting her name.

A few months later, I'm walking into my first lecture at Cal and as I'm going up the stairs, I see Meagan! What were the chances we both ended up here? After that moment, I tried to do whatever I could to be her friend - including dressing up as Shaggy for Halloween.

Sophomore year came along and in another attempt of getting closer to Meagan, I joined the AIChE/Chemical Engineering Social Committee (even though I was planning to switch my major the next semester). I took my responsibilities seriously, but I think everyone knew why I was really there...

In the summer after our sophomore year, I studied abroad in Japan. I really missed Meagan and would message her every day with pictures like this one because she told me that pink sunsets were her favorite. I dreamt about how one day we'd travel the world together and make our own memories.

At the start of junior year, I asked Meagan to go to a Maggie Rogers concert with me. We decided to get boba then walk over to the Greek Theater together afterwards. I'll never forget the moment I saw her walking up Durant towards me. She looked so gorgeous. It was like I was seeing her for the very first time again. That was when I knew I had fallen in love. A few weeks later, I asked her to be my girlfriend.

Soon after, Covid hit and we had to move back home. Even though we were apart, we made do with many zoom calls and virtual dates.

After almost a year into the Covid pandemic, we were finally back in Berkeley and celebrated our first anniversary together. We went to Bansho Ramen (Meagan's favorite spot in Berkeley) and took cute selfies on the balcony. It was pure bliss being together in-person again.

We graduated! After our baccalaureate Mass at the Newman Center, our families met for the first time as we celebrated finishing this phase of our lives.

We spent one year doing long distance while I was getting my masters degree at Cal and Meagan started working in San Diego. We would visit each other almost every other week because of how much we missed each other. Although this time apart was difficult, it showed me that it's true that distance really makes the heart grow fonder.

After finishing my Masters, the only thing I wanted to do was be with Meagan again, so I landed a job and moved to San Diego. San Diego felt like home with Meagan by my side.

After I was confirmed in the Catholic Church, I knew I wanted to propose soon, so I planned a trip to Seoul and found a photographer for the big day. I've never felt as happy as I was when I was down on one knee asking for her hand in marriage. The pure joy I felt seeing her face light up as I asked her to marry me is something that I'll always remember.