We met in college through mutual friends and had class together freshman year, but didn’t realize it. I had sworn off dating college guys and wasn’t looking for anything. But when I finally noticed him, I felt something different. I asked our friends for his number, started talking to him, and we haven’t stopped since. He never asked me to let my guard down, he just gave me reasons to. Now, even after dating for a short period, it feels much deeper because we built a true connection first.

Our favorite memory is our first real date. We went bowling, connected a lot, and got a glimpse of what life could be like together outside of school. It was exciting and felt like a fresh start. After the date, he surprised me with flowers and a heartfelt speech asking me to be his girlfriend. I was so caught off guard, but in the best way. I didn’t even have to think, and said yes right away. That moment was special and will always be one of my favorite memories with him.

If we had $20,000, we would use it to pay off our student loans and any remaining debt, giving us a clean slate to start our future together. Being free from that financial burden would let us focus on building a life after graduation, finding a home, saving for our goals, and truly enjoying our time together without the constant stress of debt. It would be the first big step toward a stable, shared future we have always dreamed of.