How did your love story begin?

I met my wife at a nonprofit health organization event and knew there was something special about her from that moment, but I was in a different phase of life. We stayed loosely connected through board-wide emails for two years. In 2017, I found her on social media and reached out several times before she finally asked my intentions. I told her honestly that I wanted to marry her. After a week of discussing our values, goals, and future, we got engaged. Many people still do not believe our story

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

One of my favorite memories is from when we were engaged. I was working long 12-hour shifts, and we rarely got to see each other. She told me how much she missed me, so one night I went to her apartment just to spend time with her. In our culture, engaged couples typically do not meet alone, especially at night, and neither our families knew. Looking back, it wasn’t the secrecy that made it special—it was knowing how much we missed each other and how excited we were to start our life together.

What would you do with $20,000?

If we were awarded $20,000, we would put it toward the down payment on our first home. We have a nine-month-old son, and our biggest goal is to provide him with more space to grow and play. We currently live in a third-floor apartment, and carrying a baby, stroller, and groceries up and down the stairs every day can be challenging. Owning a home would give our family more room, stability, and comfort, while helping us build a better future for our son.