Four couples share their love stories of how they met, fell in love, dealt with the pandemic and what they learned from their experience.
Emilie Flores ’19 and Anthony Rosas ’19
Despite taking the same AP courses throughout high school, Emilie and Anthony’s schedules never really aligned. Then in their senior year they began a playful friendship. When they realized they were both headed to UCLA, their relationship grew even stronger. They arrived on campus not knowing anyone but each other, so they dove right in and made friends, joined clubs and took part-time jobs. Since Rieber Vista and Saxon were only a few steps away, Emilie and Anthony always found time to explore Westwood, go to dining halls and study together. As they grew into independent adults, they knew they could always count on the other for support.
The pandemic was a difficult time for the couple. Emilie moved back in with her parents while Anthony lived with his family. In trying to limit contact outside their households, they spent long periods of time apart. Zoom dates took the form of playing video games or watching movies while drinking champagne. Though they lived only four minutes away from each other, it felt like they were oceans apart.
Emilie couldn’t spend another few years living at home, so she took on a second job working full-time at Amazon, while also being a full-time 8th grade science teacher and graduate student. Eventually, she saved enough to be able to purchase her own condo in January 2021. A few weeks later, Anthony proposed to Emilie during a hike. They were officially engaged after dating for 7 years. A few months later, Anthony accepted a position as an environmental scientist for the California Environmental Protection Agency.
Anthony and Emilie’s love story began in high school, flourished in college and was tested during the pandemic. But rather than drive them apart, it had made their union and love for each other stronger as they cultivated their relationship through communication and reciprocation.
Madhu ’95, M.D. ’99 and Jay Agarwal, M.D. ’00
Madhu Chopra and Jay Agarwal met 26 years ago at a recruitment event at the Westwood Marquis Hotel. Madhu was a first-year UCLA medical student and Jay was exploring his collegiate options. Jay ended up going to UCLA for medical school. They waited four years before Madhu got the courage to ask Jay out on a date. She never expected to fall for a colleague who was more introverted than she was, but soon enough, they began dating. Madhu and Jay married after Jay’s graduation in June 2000.
The two share a love for their alma mater. They have two children, both of whom are current UCLA students. Prior to the pandemic, they attended a variety of UCLA events: book club meetings, Orange County Network hikes, Dinners for 12 Strangers, professor lectures, Parents’ Council meetings, athletics and Chancellor events. Once everything got cancelled or moved virtually, they lost a huge part of their Bruin connection. Instead, Madhu and Jay reassessed their priorities. They slowed down, spent more time with family, like their aging parents, while also having distanced gatherings with friends in their backyard.
Being married to another doctor has been a blessing for both of them. It’s allowed them to relate to what the other is going through when dealing with distressed patients. At the end of the day, helping others heal is the centerpiece of their marriage.
Michelle ’10 and Ruben Ceja-Gonzalez ’10
Michelle and Ruben grew up in Ontario, California, and met during the fourth grade. It was one of those elementary school romances where Ruben liked Michelle a lot, often picked on her and was really mean. Their friendship grew throughout middle school and high school and it wasn’t until they both entered UCLA together when they officially began dating. They spent a lot of time in Westwood Village going to the movies, trying different restaurants and enjoying the company of their mutual friends, many of whom would later join their bridal party. Since they were so focused on saving money back then, a typical romantic evening would simply be walking around campus at night with no one around. It was a great way to experience campus together as a young couple, which eventually progressed to their engagement and marriage.
When the pandemic started, Michelle was about a month into a new job. It was an adjustment for her to go from five days a week in the office to going fully remote at home. Ruben, an associate scientist, could not perform his job duties from home, so there was a lot of bench work, putting on gowns and wearing gloves in a lab during the early months of the lockdown.
The uncertainty surrounding the pandemic gave Michelle and Ruben more quality time together. They started watching Marvel and Disney movie marathons, learned how to play a board game called Villainous and began talking about starting a family. There was definitely a lot of fear around becoming new parents, getting sick and whether being out in public spaces with a newborn was safe. They both decided it was worth it.
Their daughter Scarlett was born in November of 2021, around the same time that the new Omicron variant was starting to spread. Both of their families gathered for Christmas while they opted to stay home. It was difficult for Michelle and Ruben to be apart from their family during the holidays, especially having grown up babysitting their 15 nieces and nephews and sharing a close bond with their siblings.
Now a family of three, the Ceja-Gonzalezes have continued to try to find balance between their work schedules, parenting and catching up on sleep. If there is something Michelle and Ruben have learned about each other and their marriage during this uneasy time, it’s to always put the other person first and to be 100 percent truthful with your partner.
Peggy ’84 and Ron Yee ’84
Peggy and Ron Yee first met at Rieber Hall’s dining hall. They hit it off as friends. Peggy was a tenacious tennis player and a welcomed hitting partner for Ron. She played on two undefeated volleyball teams in high school so Ron picked up the sport at UCLA Recreation classes. Having different majors, they found classes they could take together to meet general education requirements. Ron tutored Peggy in calculus and chemistry while Peggy helped him with biology. They enjoyed going to the movies together, walking along the beach and exploring the communities surrounding UCLA. They began dating in 1980, got married in 1985 and have been together ever since. What started off as a friendship blossomed into a lovely marriage and then a Bruin family.
Peggy and Ron are parents to two Bruin alumni, Matt ’13 and Zach ’17, and soon-to-be UCLA graduate Rebecca exp. ’22. With everyone under the same roof during the pandemic, they had to navigate separate workspaces and adequate internet speeds for their jobs and classes. Peggy is a physical therapist who continued seeing patients throughout the pandemic. She’s had to work longer hours due to COVID-related precautions, including late night documentation. Ron has helped lighten her load by installing transcription software for her documentation and other things to lessen her to-do list.
Together they’ve started new hobbies like hiking, experimental cooking and watching rom-coms. Ron took the opportunity to change his lifestyle by focusing on diet, exercise, stress management and sleep. Peggy helped Ron by shopping for healthier grocery items. As a result he has lost over 80 pounds.
Three decades ago, UCLA brought Peggy and Ron together and today it continues to play an integral part in their lives. They are co-chairs of the UCLA Parents’ Council and are UCLA season ticket holders for football, basketball and gymnastics. Their continual self-reflection to improve all aspects of life, including marriage and caring for others, has made their life very rewarding.
Read more Bruin love stories by clicking on #BruinLove or submit your own story and photos to community@alumni.ucla.edu for a chance to be featured.