I Love Her

[December 16th, 2025]

It has been a while since my last post, so much has happened since, I don’t think I could come up with words to explain just how much my life has changed, for the better. I’ve never felt happier than now, meeting my girlfriend was the best thing that could have happened. I have loved every second I’ve been with her, every text and call, and I only wish I could spend more time with her, however, school has been very demanding lately.

This past semester was the first of my junior year and ever since my first day I knew that in this semester we would collaborate with a real watch company; I already knew it was a lot of work, but never imagined just how much and how realistic to a real job it would be.

The a small team from the watch company came to our classroom one day, everyone knew to be in early. They presented the brand we were going to design for and gave us the design brief, an outline of what we had to do, as well as tools such as brand motifs a.k.a. codes and elements, fonts, and colors.

I knew nothing about watches, how you would go about designing one and manufacturing it. At first finding the inspiration for the project was difficult, I just sat in front of a blank page, attempting just to sketch a generic watch. It took me a while to get started, but when I did, I researched how a watch was manufactured , the names of the elements, materials, the movement, and of course, researched the my brand and its users. Now, I actually cannot reveal much since I had to sign an NDA.

I put together six concepts for the first phase. We work on 11 x 17 inch paper which I can only print with at school, and they wanted our presentations pinned up on large black boards along the walls of the classroom. The day before the presentation I went to school to work on my sketches, thinking, “I’ll be back by 9 pm.” That never worked out. I couldn’t finish my sketches and had to stay overnight to finish and print. Some of my classmates also stayed but eventually everyone left and when everyone was coming back for class, I was still there.

Two of my concepts were picked, one that was very outlandish, and another that I finished 10 minutes before class; I had to move forward with these. And next came the initial CAD phase, one of my strongest suits. By the second phase, the model didn’t have to be perfect, but I obsessed over it. I read through the different movements’ spec sheets, figuring out which one allowed for a thin watch—reading how thick each part should be. I had fun, but I didn’t need to take so much time. My outlandish design had to be toned down a little, sharp curves were straightened while the main idea was still there. For my second presentation I had to stay overnight at school once again.

For some reason, my university decided to observe a fall break this semester. They had already shaved off one week of classes and now another. Needless to say, I stayed at home, working on my watch for most of the day. The next week would be my Girlfriend’s birthday, and I was not able to be with her, I felt really terrible.

It was at this point that I began hearing about the project being a competition. In the end, people would be chosen to present at the company’s headquarters and possibly win a scholarship. I just wanted to try my best, I believed I could do it, my teacher did too.

Assignments began mounting at this point. I took on film photography to earn some credits, but it required me to go out and take pictures, it’s fun of course, but I was spending more and more time on the watch. Another of my classes involved a lengthy weekly assignment and I was starting to falter. For another class I had to design the interior of a vehicle, again, I know nothing about that. The inspiration never came, and I have not been able to do anything about it. Lastly, I have to put together a portfolio, which is still not done.

I focused all my efforts on the watch design, sadly neglecting other clases. I did different dial ideas for my watch, as well as test colorways, later I did a 3D print and an improved CAD model. The day of the final presentation came, once again I had to stay overnight at school, this time having with me a formal change of clothes. Working at my fastest, I finished the presentation once people were already presenting. My computer was rendering all night views of the watch, as well as an animation. I presented the best I could, and after that I could finally relax.

Except I couldn’t. The next week I found out I was chosen to present at the HQ, I was really happy, but tired because it was not over yet. By this point I began feeling weird, a little depressed again. Each semester always takes a toll on me, and this one specially was very hard. I could not focus on other assignments, I completely gave up on the car interior project. Some depression traits began happening again, lying on the floor, randomly crying, a lot of physical pain. My girlfriend always helped me push forward, she always encouraged me to do the best I could, and I’m very thankful for that.

Next came the day to improve my presentation at the HQ. That was my first nine to five in a corporate setting, and it felt like I only was there for 2 hours, I did so much and still didn’t finish my presentation until the next day. A week later I presented with some of my classmates. It was strange, I’ve never been in such a place, the board meeting room, big screens, big table, reserved seat labels, meeting the top of the company, including the CEO. This time I had prepared a script for my presentation, but I was way too nervous, I was not speaking loud enough and got called out for it. It could have been better, but it was the best I could do. I didn’t win first place, but I was gifted a goodie bag with a watch, a bottle, a pen, and a couple other things. Now it was truly over.

My photography teacher was real nice and gave the class As in the final assignments even though most of us didn’t do it properly—or at all. I presented an inclusive bench design for my other class and handed in two late assignments, declaring that class done as well.

And today, I’m flying to Mexico for Christmas and to attend a wedding, as well as some important business.

[January 11th, 2026]

I’m back… and this post seems to never be finished.

After my girlfriend and I got together, we only had two weeks to ourselves before I went back to school. We spent time together while I could, but once school started it became harder to see her.

I had been alone for years, and suddenly having someone who needs me—it’s still hard to get accustomed to it. I love the moments when we’re together, when we fall asleep together, but a part of me can’t help but feel that we’ve spent too much time together, it makes me leave so I can have alone time. I know it’s okay to want some time for myself, but I’d also like if I could handle spending much more time with her—it’s going to take time, but I’ll get there.

I can’t imagine myself without her, really. Yes, she’s changed my life in a big way, but I love every part of it, I don’t want to look back. She makes me feel happy, loved, missed, cherished. Things I hardly experienced before. She’s helped me smile again, to enjoy things again.

Lately, as I’ve been dealing with apathy, she’s still there for me, even when I’m too overwhelmed to answer texts and calls—she cares so much. I’ve never experienced that much attention before; when someone does, it even annoys me a little. But I couldn’t be more grateful to have her by my side; I love that she cares.

She has made me the happiest I could ever be, I love her.