SAF grad Julia and Patrick Lann's love story started on campus
To celebrate Valentine's Day, we wanted to share a story of two SAF alumni that met and fell in love on campus.
Julia and Patrick Klann
Pictured above are Julia Klann (MAcc '05) and Patrick Klann (MAcc '05).
Where did you first meet?
We first met at co-op interviews at Needles Hall during our second year. Pat and I had not crossed paths much during our first year at UW since he was in Math Accounting and I was in Arts Accounting, and we had different schedules. During the co-op interview period, Pat had two conflicting interview times and needed to swap interviews with someone, and that’s how we met. We ended up spending quite a bit of time together at Needles Hall throughout the two-week interview period, and by the end of those two weeks, we both knew there was something special about the other. On the day of my last interview, Pat invited me to join a few people at Mel’s Diner, and I told him I couldn’t go because I had an interview at the time when everyone was leaving. When I came out of that interview, everyone had gone but, Pat stayed behind to wait for me. The rest is history!
What did you do on your first date?
We spent a lot of time together after co-op interviews and used to study together in the library. Our first ‘official’ date was at Morty’s on wing night where we shared a pitcher of beer and some wings.
What is your fondest memory of UW?
Our fondest memories of UW include the simple pleasures of enjoying university life, spending time with our friends and having many carefree days without much responsibility. As much as it likely wasn’t fun at the time, some of our best memories from UW are studying late into the night (and sometimes into the early hours of the morning) to get ready for an exam and then celebrating the end of the exam with our friends on the Bomber patio. I vividly remember the last day of the UFE and the euphoria that came with having completed the important exam of our lives and spending the rest of that afternoon and evening together celebrating with all our friends who had just lived through the same experience. Those days were quiet memorable and can bring a real feeling of nostalgia.
How long have you been married?
We got married the summer after our graduation and will be married 15 years this June. We had been hoping to take a big trip to celebrate but with the pandemic is seems like we will be homebound for the celebration.
Do you have any marriage advice that you'd like to share?
We have been together long enough to say that we have spent half of our lives with each other and each day keeps getting better! Our relationship works because we really are partners – we are each other’s biggest supporters and best friends. Now, as we look back, our advice would be to find that person who makes every single day a great one no matter the circumstances: whether you are working, travelling or trying to manage to work from home while homeschooling during a global pandemic. If you can find someone who can make the routine of quarantine fun and enjoyable – you know you have something that will last forever!