Annie Tolentino ’21 and Armand Ceniza ’22

I first met Armand in 2019 through the Filipino Student Association (FSA) at UCF. We had mutual friends, but we never really interacted. That all changed when a group of our friends decided to create a video series for fun, and Armand and I were asked to be part of it. We played characters who were childhood neighbors, supposed to grow closer as the story progressed. Unfortunately, the project was never finished, and that meant our characters never got their happy ending on-screen. But even though the project ended, it was the beginning of our story. I always thought Armand was cute, but it wasn’t until a friend mentioned it to him that he reached out to me, and we started texting. Things quickly grew from there. Not long after, we went on our first date, and since then, so much has happened.

I graduated from UCF with my nursing degree in 2021, and Armand graduated in 2022 with his degree in biomedical sciences. Through late-night study sessions, big milestones, and life changes, we’ve always supported each other in our dreams and goals. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m so grateful for every step of it. Shoutout to our matchmaker friends—you know who you are! I’m so thankful for UCF FSA and the incredible people it brought into my life. Through those friendships, I met Armand, and what began as a fun project turned into something truly special. I’m excited to see where this adventure takes us next.