Students take steps towards marriage
College students who are engaged share a college experience different from those who are not simultaneously planning a wedding and studying. University of Indianapolis graduate student Heath Shanahan and sophomore Kailey Willhelm are engaged to be married to their fiancés. Though planning a wedding takes a lot of work, both couples are excited to take the next step towards marriage.
Shanahan planned a unique proposal for his girlfriend Ashley Reed.
He took her out on a date and presented her with one rose. Shanahan said it symbolized what he and Reed had been through together as a couple. Afterwards, he took her to their favorite restaurant and presented her with a second rose. The second rose symbolized their present lives they shared together. He then claimed to have forgotten something in his car, and while Reed thought he had gone after a third rose, he surprised her and returned with the ring instead.
Willhelm said that she and her fiancé had been dating for two-and-a-half years when they became engaged last May. Willhelm said that she does not feel like anything has changed.
“We are just like any other couple in college,” Willhelm said. “We just happen to be planning a wedding at the same time. My friends are very supportive of us. I could not be happier.”
Shanahan, who is in his second year as a master’s of business administration student, dated his fiancée throughout their undergraduate years and became engaged.
“We were together for about seven years before we got engaged,” he said. “We worked together and eventually started dating my freshman year of undergrad.”
As a graduate student, Shanahan has an experience different than Willhelm’s.
“I probably don’t hang out with students as much because all of my classes are night classes,” he said. “But I still have time to play on the Ultimate Club or be at social events.”
Both students have had the experience of dating someone who does not attend the same school. Willhelm’s fiancé is in his senior year at Purdue. Shanahan’s fiancée attended IUPUI.
Being a student requires attention to details while juggling multiple tasks at once. Being engaged means also being tasked with planning a wedding, something that each student says is manageable.
“If anything being engaged has helped my schoolwork,” Willhelm said. “My fiancé and I have an agreement that I have to get all of my schoolwork done before working on wedding plans.”
Shanahan said the planning process has not been as much of a burden on him as his fiancée
“I kind of go with the flow. I know for her it is a little bit more stressful,” Shanahan said. “I know my day is going to come and I know it is going to be great.”
Both students are enjoying their engagements and offer some advice to other couples in the student body.
“I would tell them to pray, follow their hearts and don’t let others influence their decisions,” Willhelm said.
Shanahan also provided tips for fellow students.
“If you’re dating, allow yourself time. Don’t rush into the engagement,” Shanahan said. “…Enjoy all of the planning stages and your time together.”
