A Love Story Rooted in Friendship and Growth
KIONNIS BELL
"It feels good to be back in The Valley... I get to see my friends and check out the gym some more." As I pulled on campus, I didn't think about my classes much. I was too excited to just get back to school and relax for a few days until that follow Monday. No girls were on my mind. Just me, my food, and my games. At the beginning of my years in college, I was quiet, reserved, and low key as much as possible. I didn't want any attention drawn to me unless it dealt with basketball or having good grades. I was focused. Or nervous. Last year wasn't much of a experience for me. I was actually bored until football and basketball homecoming. I could name 7 friends I made. 2 were roommates of mine and the rest were met because we live in WC7. Til this day we're cool.
Last year, I didn't want a relationship with anyone. I always had a girlfriend in school and I actually was getting tired of dealing with having to carry much of the load. That whole freshman year I experienced things, but I was never amused. Girls would talk to me and I don't even budge or smile. No one caught my eye. I floated through some of my classes the first few days and I didn't pay much attention to the people inside of it. I was focused on getting an A hard enough that I didn't even hold conversations with people long. I did my work. I turned it in. I left. And never came back out.
It was Wednesday nearly November when I noticed a girl's voice shaking because she's nervous to speak in front of people. I smirked because I was the same way 2 years ago. She took her criticism pretty well but she didn't earn her grade just yet. I followed after her to deliver my speech. I was nervous, but I mask it by gazing into the audience and occasionally looking at my paper. If my voice starts to crack I press my foot into the ground (I don't know why, but it helps) I complete my speech and get a grade that day. The most criticism I received was I need relax my shoulders and feel comfortable. Others weren't so lucky. I didn't have my glasses on but I could sense this girl looking at me as if I was the professor. (I can feel when people look at me) I turn to her , still listening to our professor but everything was blurry. I saw braids, and brown skin, but I couldn't see features. I instantly regretted leaving my glasses in my room. After class I stuck around to take roll.... a fine figure took her time signing out of class with the same braids and brown skin. I could feel that she is shy person. I waved but I was shy too. I barely knew what she looked like that first day. Who knows if I'd see her outside of this class ...?
It all started in a public speaking class at Fort Valley State University. I didn’t know it at the time, but the person sitting near me—someone I’d soon bond with over gaming and late-night study sessions—would become my wife.
What began as a shared struggle to perfect our speeches quickly turned into something more. We found comfort in each other’s company, balancing the stress of school with laughter, competition, and deep conversations. Gaming became our escape, and studying became our excuse to spend more time together. Somewhere between the virtual battles and real-life speeches, we built a connection that felt effortless.
After graduation, life took us in different professional directions—she into the medical field and me into education as a high school math teacher. But the foundation we built at FVSU carried us through every challenge.
To today’s students, our advice is simple: Be kind to others. Show love without motive. Build a bond that can’t be bought or broken. And when you find something worth fighting for—fight for it.
