Cards, roses and chocolate, oh my! Kelly Kristiansen is overjoyed to spend another day with her best friend, Mason Oberheu. Kristiansen, junior in secondary education, and Oberheu, junior in mechanical engineering, met their freshmen year at K-State in the Van Zile dining center.
As Oberheu reminisces, he remembers his first thought of Kristiansen: “tall.” The truth is, it wasn’t love at first sight for the couple. Rain did not fall, and dramatic music did not play as it would in a Nicolas Sparks movie. The two met through mutual friends, so they ended up having lunch together at the dining center. It was immediately obvious to Oberheu that she was caring, weird and intelligent.
“I say weird, but she’s no weirder than me … it’s a compliment, I promise,” Oberheu said.
There were a couple minor setbacks: Oberheu was just beginning his marching band career and, most importantly, Kristiansen had a boyfriend. While Kristiansen and Oberheu developed a friendship, Kristiansen and her boyfriend ended theirs. Kristiansen admits that once her first relationship ended, she had no desire to have another boyfriend. Although, she did not anticipate the significance of Oberheu in her life.
Hannah Martin, junior in secondary education and friend of the couple, said she was actually shocked when Kristiansen sent her a text over spring break that said, “I think I like Mason.”
“As time’s proven though, they do make sense together,” Martin said. “That’s what I admire about them.”
Once the two returned from spring break, Oberheu built up the courage and asked Kristiansen, “Should we just make this official?”
Two years later, Kristiansen and Oberheu are officially in love. The secret to their commitment is that the two are just best friends. Kristiansen said one of her favorite things to do with Mason is simple: watching Netflix. The two have very demanding schedules, even more so now than when they were freshmen. Their busy lives, however, do not affect their feelings for one another.
“A day doesn’t go by that we don’t say ‘I love you’ to each other,” Oberheu said.
Despite their differing campus involvement, the two still prioritize making time for one another. They both agree that communication is key.
“Kelly has helped me share what I am thinking, and she is always there for me to talk out my problems,” Oberheu said.
That being said, Kristiansen and Oberheu do not agree on everything. Their main source of problems lies in the kitchen.
“He cooks the wrong way,” Kristiansen said. “Well, neither of us are the best cooks.”
On the other hand, Mason says Kristiansen does not know how to make mac ‘n cheese correctly.
Martin describes the duo as an old married couple, not because of their bickering in the kitchen, but because they are so lovingly comfortable with each other.
Kristiansen’s friend Morgan Wills, senior in political science, said it is inspiring that Kristiansen is the same person when she is Wills’ friend and when she is Oberheu’s girlfriend.
Oberheu said his relationship with Kristiansen has only impacted his life positively, making him happier. The two depend on each other through various circumstances.
“I know Kelly has my back and I have hers,” Oberheu said. “She is the master of making me smile. My relationship with Kelly has made my experience at K-State incredible.”
Kristiansen encourages others to find someone who shares your values and aspirations.
“You need to be with someone who challenges you to be the best version of yourself and that person needs to help you get there,” Kristiansen said. “Mason does that for me.”
