Netrea and Gary recently responded to a request I made on social media, for couples to share their stories. We had a great conversation. I hope you enjoy hearing about her relationship!

What challenges have you faced?  

Like any couple, we have had our fair share of issues: financial challenges and differences in opinion on raising kids – things like that. 

How do you deal with difficult times?

We take time to cool off before tackling our difficult times. After that, we talk, yell, cry, hug and apologize. We make sure to tell each other, “I love you,” even if we don’t want to at the moment.

How have you adjusted to life together?

I don’t know how we adjusted to life together. It wasn’t easy, but I’m loving where we are now!

What kind of boundaries protect your relationship?

We mostly use common sense to protect our relationship. For example, putting yourself in the other person’s shoes, or thinking about their feelings.

How has your family reacted?

My family is very open to anyone who is honest and loving and his family welcomed me with open arms… except uncle Joe.

How have your friends reacted?

My closest friends already know my M.O. I’ve always dated white guys. Gary’s friends thought we were opposite enough to work.

How are things now with friends and family? Are they supportive or are there any outstanding issues?

Our family and friends still support us, and always will.

What are some of the expectations you had before your relationship?

We expected our relationship to last, period. We both came from broken homes and didn’t want to repeat the cycle.

Looking back on some of those expectations, how have they changed now?

So far, there have been no changes in our expectations. 

What are some of the things you do to keep your relationship growing?

We have to keep things fresh and go back to what we did when we first met.

Do you have any tips for girls dating in college?

Just have fun! I was seeing 2 other guys while I was seeing Gary. He challenged me and made me aware of my worth, but I wanted to “ sow my oats,” as my dad said. So I approached dating thinking “like a dude.” My dad and brother had a lot to do with that mentality. Strangely enough, it helped me to avoid getting my heart broken.

Thank you so much for reading this interview! That is the end of this couple’s feature. If any of you are interested in participating in this series, please leave a comment below or connect with me or Christelyn Karazin. You can e-mail me for an interview at [email protected].