Our love story began on a crisp fall evening at a riverfront bar in Troy, NY. Samantha, 32, stood out immediately with her long black hair, beautiful smile, and statuesque 6’1” presence. At 34, I was sporting a man bun that didn’t exactly win her over. Luckily,after 8 months of searching for her, our paths crossed again. Thankfully the man bun was gone and the second impression became the lasting one. Today we’re engaged, after a sunset proposal in Aruba on May 7 and life has never been better.

Our favorite memory together is our trip to Aruba this year. Watching the sunset over the Caribbean, surrounded by crystal-clear water, family, friends and everything we’d built together, I asked Samantha to marry me on May 7th. Seeing her smile and hearing her say “yes” is a moment I’ll never forget. It wasn’t just a proposal—it was the start of our next chapter, and the happiest day of our lives.

We would use the $20,000 to help build the life we’re starting together. As a newly engaged couple, it would help us celebrate our wedding, create unforgettable memories with our family and friends, and allow us to save more toward our first home together. More than anything, it would give us a stronger financial foundation as we begin our marriage and focus on building our future under one roof.