Spoken by the queen herself: “Staying friends is safe, doesn’t mean you should… My advice is always—ruin the friendship. Better that than regret it for all time.” —Taylor Swift

Seven years later, that’s exactly what we did. We met while living in Ames and grew from running partners and travel companions into the best of friends. On August 12, 2024, Rodney asked me to be his girlfriend. Eleven months later, at the very spot where my grandfather proposed to my grandmother, I said yes to being his forever best friend and partner. We can’t wait to keep exploring the world together and to celebrate our wedding with the people we love.