Kayla
Second-year
Nursing  student

What are activities are you involved with at the University?
Member of Kappa Delta sorority, president of the class of 2013 at the Nursing School and president of the Student Nurses Association of Virginia. I also work in admissions at the School of Nursing and previously played for the club softball team.
What else do you like to do? Hobbies?
I love to read fiction books, especially if they are going to be a movie. I also will play in just about any athletic pick-up game (football, basketball, baseball/softball, volleyball, etc.)
What’s your type?
Physically and personality-wise: Usually athletic build, tall, humorous and genuinely a nice person.
If you could date any celebrity, who would it be and why?
Gerard Butler. End of story. He is so attractive and he can take me salsa dancing on our date. Who wouldn’t want to do that with him?
What’s a typical weekend like for you? Do you party? Drink? Smoke?
I love to go out to just about any party with my friends. But there are some weekend nights when I like to take it easy and just go and see a movie with a group of people. I don’t drink or smoke — it’s just a personal decision, but I don’t pass any judgment on those who do.
Do you work out or play sports? Would you date someone who doesn’t work out if you do, vice versa?
I love to work out, it puts me in a better mood all around. I love sports. I usually like athletic guys, so ideally they would work out or play a sport, but if not, that isn’t a deal breaker.
What are your favorite TV shows?
I love “True Blood,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Desperate Housewives and “Bones.”
What are your favorite movies/actors? Favorite movie quote?
I’m usually not picky about movie genres, I love comedy, action and chick flicks. A couple of my favorites are the “The Ugly Truth” and “The Hangover.”
What music do you listen to?
All types of music. Never ask me the artist or the name of the song — I can never remember, but I will remember the lyrics to the song. I mainly listen to most popular songs and alternative/pop.
Describe the best five minutes of your life.
Skinny dipping with a stranger. It was the most exhilarating, spontaneous and free moment of my life so far.
Sell yourself. What makes you a good catch?
I’m a down-to-earth person, easy-going, funny, loyal and outgoing kind of girl. I’m not a wallflower so I love to be in social situations. Being that I love sports, I don’t mind breaking a nail to go toss around a ball. I’m pretty easy on the eyes, so all around, I think I’m a pretty good catch.
What would your theme song be? Why?
“Always Where I Need To Be” by The Kooks. I’m always where I need to be not just in my love life, but also in every aspect of my life. Plus the beat just puts a pep in my step.
What are the deal breakers? (smoker, age difference, etc.?)
I can’t stand consistent smoking. There’s gotta be an age limit. I don’t want to go to jail for taking the bait and late 20s would be pushing the older barrier for my age. Also they can’t show any kind of disrespect to a person because I can’t stand that.
Describe your ideal situation in 15 years.
I will be 34 in 15 years, so ideally I would at least like to be in a committed relationship if not married. As of now, I would only want children if I could support them financially and have a husband that won’t just stand there and watch.
Describe yourself in one sentence:
I’m down-to-earth and usually laughing.

Ari
Third-year
Engineering student

What activities are you involved with at the University?
Mainly varsity soccer, StudCo and Third Year Council.
What else do you like to do?
Hanging with friends, sports and exploring Charlottesville.
What’s your type (physically and personality-wise)?
I’m on the smaller side, so I tend to go for shorter girls, but as long as we click, we’re good.
If you could date any celebrity, who would it be and why?
P!nk… I’m in love with her.
What’s a typical weekend like for you? Do you party? Drink? Smoke?
Don’t drink or smoke. Typical weekend is lots of hanging out with friends, out at night and library on Sundays.
Do you work out or play sports? Would you date someone who doesn’t work out if you do, vice versa?
Yes to both.
What are your favorite TV shows?
“Entourage”
What are your favorite movies/actors? Favorite movie quote?
Jack Nicholson and “Seven Pounds.” “Give them nothing, but take from them everything,” from “300.”
What music do you listen to?
Generally rap and whatever is popular at the moment.
Favorite books/authors?
John Grisham and Dave Barry
Describe the best five minutes of your life.
Dec. 13, 2009. U.Va just won the national championship in soccer. There was mayhem on the field as I jumped and ran around crazily with my teammates. Rushing into the stands toward my family, lifting the trophy, hugs and cheers everywhere … amazing.
Sell yourself. What makes you a good catch?
I’m adventurous, optimistic and love a good laugh. Talk to me!
Tell a joke. What’s your idea of funny?
Generally, I love goofy humor … stupid, in the moment, situational things. But as long as I’m laughing, it’s funny.
What are the deal breakers? (smoker, age difference, etc.?)
Smoking
If there’s one thing you could change about yourself, what would it be? Why?
Probably my height. A couple more inches would definitely be helpful in soccer and in life.
If you lived in “Mean Girls” world, what high school clique would you have belonged to (the Plastics, the sexually active band geeks, etc.)?
Never seen it, but I’m a pretty average guy (unless having not seen it precludes me from being average.)
What do you want to do when you graduate?
Find a job and enjoy life.
Describe your ideal situation in 15 years. Married? Kids? How many?
Hopefully married with a couple kids, and living well.
What’s your favorite part about the University? Least favorite?
The people — students, faculty, townies, everyone — make U.Va. truly unique. I can’t stand when dining halls put sloppy Joe meat on spaghetti and call it meat sauce. Like, really?!
How would your best friend describe you?
Chill and laid-back.
If you could time travel to any period, when would it be and why?
Renaissance Italy, to experience the cultural and artistic rebirth first-hand.
Describe yourself in one sentence.
I know where I’m going, but I like to keep things interesting.

Ari: I always thought that I should do Love Connection someday, but I never actually considered it seriously or filled out the survey. So, when I got asked to do it, I thought it was a golden opportunity and got pretty excited.

Kayla: I figured [Love Connection] would be a good experience even if it didn’t go well or if we didn’t end up dating, because at least I would meet a new person at school. My friends were excited, and kind of jealous because they wanted to go out as well.

Ari: We planned to meet at the Rotunda at 8, but I had a game that night and so I ended up a little bit late. I felt so bad; I was sprinting from GrandMarc to the Rotunda, so when I showed up, I was all sweaty and gross. It was not a good start. She was waiting patiently and was very gracious, and I thought she was definitely pretty and attractive.

Kayla: I showed up like five minutes early because we were supposed to meet at 8, but he showed up at 8:10 because of his soccer game. I texted [the Love Connection writer] to make sure of the plans and ask where he was just in case, but when he explained why he was late, it was easily understandable and totally forgiven.

Ari: We started walking for the Corner without a solid plan, and through conversation we would be like, “Okay, so have you been here?” and settled on Lemongrass since she said she really liked it and I had never been there. In the beginning there were pauses, I guess, but once we started talking and once conversation started to flow it was good. We transitioned aimlessly from topic to topic and the conversation itself went really well.

Kayla: The conversation was very easy right away. There weren’t really any dull moments or awkward pauses. We got to know each other through basic stuff, like majors and classes. One of the things we discussed the most was the [Love Connection] survey and what answers we put for which questions.

Ari: We talked about her hometown, which is Las Vegas, so I thought that was really cool. Then we talked about where I’m from as a starting point. It didn’t really get to much deeper conversation, and I would say there was never really an attraction. It was a friendly date getting to know each other, but I never got the romantic impression.

Kayla: We were just eager to get to know each other, so it seemed like a good date. There wasn’t an attraction, I don’t think, but as far as friendliness goes, it was not a bad experience at all. He’s kind of short too, like an inch shorter than me, but that wasn’t a deal breaker because he was such a cool guy. There just wasn’t that spark.

Ari: After we left Lemongrass she was going to walk back to meet her friend to get picked up, but I had my car at GrandMarc so I offered to take her home.

Kayla: He drove me home and that was very sweet, and before he dropped me off he asked for my last name for Facebook, so now we’re friends on Facebook. That’s it so far.

Ari: I would say [a relationship with her] is not something I’ll pursue — we’re one-time date friends. It went as smoothly as it could have, but it wasn’t romantic and we weren’t really interested in that way.

Kayla: [Out of 10] I’d give the date an eight. I got along well with him. It was just platonic, and if there were to be anything after, I’d have to spend more time with him, just to get to know him more below surface level conversation. You don’t really like someone without knowing him.

Ari: I’d have to give the date an eight because it went well, but it just wasn’t romantic. It was as much as I could have asked for just getting to know someone I probably wouldn’t have otherwise met, but that’s about it. If I saw her around, I would just act according to whatever the situation called for, but I won’t pursue anything else.

After the date, Ari and Kayla have become Facebook friends but do not see any future together as soulmates.