We present your RAMs of the Week, Valentine’s Day Edition!

There are tons of couples here at Harriton that we could have chosen to interview this week, yet we are indeed glad to have chosen these two lovebirds. You may have seen Andrew or Cynthia frequenting the library (programing games and nothing less) or in the cafeteria every day without exception before school. It is evident that they are not only dating, but are each other’s best friends. They have a special connection that is evident to all who meet them. As we near Cupid’s holiday, some are giving thanks to their loved ones, some wallowing in their own loneliness, some stuffing their faces with chocolate. As for us, we are thankful that people like Cynthia and Andrew are able to inspire those that surround them to be thankful for the ones they love. We are also thankful for the invention of Valentine’s Day Candy! In the words of Ghandi, “Where there is love, there is life.”

1.     Tell us the story of your fateful meeting?

Cynthia: We had math classes together all through middle school but really only paid attention to each other starting in 9^th grade. That was when we had a lot of classes in common and became good friends.

2.     If your lives were TV shows what would your theme songs be?

Andrew: As a couple?

Annika: It could be.

*whispers between*

Cynthia: You’re my best friend (Queen).

3.    What is the quality you most admire in each other?

Andrew: Everything I have to say she is interested in, and we have meaningful conversations. She’s interested in the same sorts of things as me and likes when I tell her something new and cool I’ve learned.

Cynthia: He’s constantly teaching me new things. I’m interested in everything he has to say, as is he with what I have to say. We have talked basically everyday for 2 years and it never gets boring.

4.     Couple name? 

Andrew and Cynthia: We are strongly against having a couple name!

Annika: You don’t agree?

Andrew: No.

Cynthia: Our friends have tried a lot of them. None of them sound remotely good. Anyway, he and I both prefer to be referenced individually because we really are two separate people.

5.     Best date you have ever gone on?

Cynthia: I’m going to say the date that’s the optimization of best and most recent.

Andrew’s Chanukah gift from his parents was a dinner date anywhere we wanted to go. He took me into the city and Ill always remember it because we went to the Rose Tattoo Café and it was some of the best food I have ever eaten. There was a very romantic atmosphere, with plants all around, and we were sat at a secluded table. After we finished, we walked back to the train station, passing a gelato place on the way.

Annika: Capogiro’s?!

Andrew: Yes! It’s so good, but they were closed.

Cynthia: I still haven’t gotten a chance to try them.

6.     What did you do for your one-year anniversary?

*Cynthia and Andrew exchange soulful glances*

Annika: I can tell this is going to be good

Cynthia: Oh it is. So, right before our anniversary, I didn’t suspect anything fancy to happen, maybe going out to dinner. On the day of, when I went into school, I didn’t see him in the cafeteria in the morning like I almost always do, except for the last few seconds when he ran in out of breath and denying having done anything suspicious. He walked me to my first class, where everything was normal, until partway through Mrs. Caine says in front of the whole class, “oh, Cynthia, this was on my desk with your name. I’m supposed to give it to you?” and hands me a beautiful peach and orange rose. After that class had finished, I talked to Andrew in the hall, and he was smiling proudly but still denying being the one to set up the flowers. For the rest of the day, I found a rose in every classroom, a red or yellow on my desk, a white one by my artwork in ceramics, a green one received from a friend outside my study hall. I’m not even sure how he set up a few of them. The best moment though was that in the last set of the day – chemistry. I found one more flower and he came into the room with an erlenmeyer flask for a vase.

Andrew (to Cynthia): You actually got the English one wrong. I’d asked her the day before if I could drop it by in the morning and I’d given it to her. She knew it was me, she made the note thing up. Also, the one I’m most proud of is the one over lunch. I had gone from Chem down by Mr. Young’s room [she had her study hall there] and had him let me in as he was getting his lunch. You’d left for lunch and I put it there and then came to lunch jogging so you didn’t notice.

Cynthia: That was a red one, by the way. I got back from lunch and there was a red rose on my laptop.

7.     So what is your favorite type of flower?

Cynthia: I don’t have a favorite type, but I do prefer multi-colored flowers instead of a whole bouquet of a single color.

Andrew: I knew this when I did the one-year thing. I’d got a friend of hers to ask her casually and tell me.

8.     Andrew, what Disney princess does Cynthia remind you of and why?

Andrew: I don’t know any Disney princesses.

Annika: Surely you watched some when you were younger?

Cynthia: He’s never seen a disney movie…a bit sad really

Annika: You must have seen Frozen?

Cynthia: He hasn’t, but I have! It’s fantastic.

Andrew: I wouldn’t really say Cynthia’s like any of the Disney princesses I can think of.

Cynthia: Fair enough. I might have said Rapunzel, but I like being my own person.

9.     Who’s more romantic, and what’s the most romantic thing they’ve ever done?

Andrew: You already have the most romantic thing I’ve ever done for Cynthia. I’d say that the most romantic thing that I have ever done for her is more romantic than the most romantic thing that she has done for me.

Cynthia: That really was fantastic, as was visiting me at the train station when I returned to Pennsylvania over the summer and inviting me to your family’s Christmas. Yeah…he wins by a lot.

10.  If you were both finalists on America’s Got Talent, who would win and with what talent?

Cynthia: Well, I have noticed recently that for almost any song that people ask me about, with only one line or a badly hummed melody I can tell them the name of the song and band.

Annika: No way! We have to test this out some time.

Andrew: I can’t think of any talents that would really lend themselves well to that. I mean, I fix things, but that wouldn’t really work well here. Cynthia would win.

11.  What is the one essential quality two people must have in order to be successful together?

Cynthia: Maturity. If half of a couple is expecting their partner to read their mind regarding things they’re upset about, or has unreasonable demands and expectations, they’re not mature enough to have a successful relationship with someone else. A relationship involves talking when you’re unhappy with the other person instead of stomping away so you can fix your problems. You also need to be friends before you date.

Andrew: I’d go with communication. Two people have to be able to talk things over, to address each other’s problems, and cooperate to find a way they can both be happy. If one person’s happy and the other person is hiding their frustration, it’s a ticking time bomb. Being able to talk out problems, without giant fights and without leaving resentment, will let two people handle any problem they might have between them.

12.  Why are you two the most worthy couple of the RAM of the week name?

Cynthia: Are we?

Annika: Of course you are! We picked you, didn’t we?

Andrew: I don’t know. Why would we be?

Cynthia: I think that our relationship has a unique quality that most other high-school age relationships don’t have. We really are compatible and were friends for a year before we started going out, instead of jumping in with someone we barely know. We argue sometimes, but also recognize that everybody argues and that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be together. When we argue, we say things like, “even though I’m frustrated, I still love you,” and that’s something I think a lot of other couples lack.

Annika: You’re best friends, not just a couple?

Both: Exactly.

Andrew: Also, out of all the couples in the school / whom you have interviewed, are we the longest lasting? If so, that.

13.  Personal Statement?

Andrew: *thinks deeply*

Cynthia: *thinks deeply*

Cynthia: “There’s family you’re born with, and there’s family you make.” This was told to me by Andrew’s mom this winter, who, along with the rest of his household, I do consider to be my family.

Andrew: learn; know; do; be; have been.

This interview was long but simply perfect. The number of “awws” awwed were counted and came to 19. Yes this may seem like an irrelevant fact, but it gives you an idea of how it went. If there were ever two people that were made for each other it is these two. We wish you two the best along with all the other couples out there! Happy Valentine’s Day!