Tudor Gagea, BAA Paralegal, 2019
Michaela Morris, BAA Paralegal, 2018
How did you meet?
On April 9, 2016, neither of us woke up knowing our lives were about to be changed forever. It was a mild, windy Saturday volunteering in Lakeshore’s L Building at the Paralegal Degree booth for Spring Open House. It was a volunteer opportunity we both almost did not commit to because it was busy exam season – I even rescheduled an appointment last minute to attend and I am glad I did!
I remember sitting in the hall that morning, waiting to set up the booth and thinking about how I did not know any other volunteers. Little did I know, I was not just about to meet someone; I was about to meet the one.
“So have you volunteered at any law firms?” was the question that started our first conversation. We soon found out that for two people who had just met, we had a lot of unique things in common: the same program, we were both only children and both vegetarians, to name a few.
“Have you two met? This is Tudor, the program’s oral advocate. This is Michaela, the program’s written advocate,” our program coordinator said. We often joke that they were our matchmaker, even though we had already met about 10 minutes before this introduction.
When lunchtime came, there was coffee, which was another topic we bonded over. When we reflect on it today, Tudor says what stuck out to him the most was that I got him a lid for his coffee cup. I did not think much of it at the time; I was just being me.
After lunch was the Paralegal Workshop, where current students discuss our program experiences with prospective students. I was nervous because, after all, I was the written advocate, not the oral advocate! Tudor’s friend Danny Pallag realized this and piped up with, “When I get nervous, I hold Tudor’s hand.” That was my first real indication that something special was happening here.
"Little did I know, I was not just about to meet someone, I was about to meet the one."
Tell us about your first date?
When the day of volunteering ended, Tudor and I walked back to the A/B parking lot together. Just as we were about to part ways, Tudor stopped me on the path and said, “I think you’re cool, cute and pretty and I was wondering if you’d like to get coffee together?” I replied excitedly, “Yes,” and suggested we exchange numbers. I remember being so overwhelmed with excitement that I could not remember how to add a new contact on my phone!
Anything else you'd like to share?
From that day on, our lives were never the same, but in the best way possible. We have been dating now for almost five years and fall more in love with each other every day. We really cannot imagine our lives without each other and will be forever grateful that we found love at Humber.
