Connect How did your love story begin?

Though we met on Tinder, our true story started on our first date. Neither of us thought anything serious would come from a dating app, but when we were finally face to face everything changed. We spoke nervously for a while, and he took notice. He reached for my hand. Hesitantly, I reached back and we locked eyes. The tension in the air dissipated. It was as if we both knew, this was our person. Our love only grew from there, and now as fiancés we are preparing for the next chapter.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

We both have a soft spot for animals. From a rescue dog that now lives with us, to pulling kittens out of lagoons, we seem to find ourselves around animals in need. One story that stands out is about an abandoned bunny. We were finishing a nightly dog walk, and a bunny was sitting by our apartment building. It appeared to be a pet, so we caught it. After unsuccessfully searching for its previous owners, we were able to connect him to a new home, who named him Phoenix, after us.

What would you do with $20,000?

We have spent our whole relationship constantly planning for our future. It has taken priority over everything as we’ve sacrificed some of our milestone moments for making sure we were in a better place. If awarded this opportunity, we could finally take a well needed vacation, plan our dream wedding, and purchase our first home. Getting to be fully present in the final years of our twenties and enjoy them together without financial burdens glooming over us would change our lives for the better.