It's crazy to think that Tanner and I actually met. I was a junior, and he was a sophomore. I’d spent my entire school career in Fairfax City, while he was a military kid who moved every three years. I’d been on the Women's Varsity Crew team for the last two years, and Tanner had just joined the novice team, mainly because of some pressure from a close friend. We never practiced together, nor did we see each other during winter training. It wasn’t until late February, as we were gearing up for water practice, that carpools started being organized.

The day before our first water practice, I, as the oldest in the group, took it upon myself to group everyone together so we knew who was who. However, that day, Tanner didn’t show up to practice. He also missed the first water day, which made me a bit nervous since his mom was supposed to drive me home that night.

I didn’t find out until later, but apparently, after meeting me, Tanner’s mom went home and told him she had met his future girlfriend. Weeks passed, carpool rides continued, and gradually I began looking forward to the days when Tanner was in my car. We would talk the entire 45-minute ride there and back.

As the season came to a close, I learned that Tanner was moving soon, and the whole team pitched in to give him a signed rowing machine as a parting gift. As a little goodbye gesture, I added an inside joke from our carpool rides and, of course, my phone number.

On the last day of the season, as we were cleaning up the boathouse, Tanner and I somehow ended up being the last ones waiting for our parents. When his mom finally drove up, he asked me out on a date. Naturally, I said yes, and the rest, as they say, is history. Well, not exactly—life isn’t that simple.

We went out, had a great time, shared our first kiss, and then he moved to Rhode Island. Over the next two years, we did long-distance while he finished high school. We visited each other as much as we could during breaks, even attending each other’s senior proms (even making it into the FHS 2017 year book insert- photo attached).

Finally, after he graduated, he decided to move back to Virginia for college. We did end up attending different schools but GMU and UMW are a lot closer than the University of Rhode Island.

Almost nine years later, we’re still together with engagement plans coming. We have our careers, our little apartment, and our brand new kitty—and we’re happier than ever. And all of that started from the FHS Crew Team and our carpool.