HCC​ ​staffer​ ​makes​ ​lasting​ ​memory​ ​during​ ​eclipse

Sep 19, 2017

The​ ​Great ​American​ Solar ​Eclipse​ ​became​ ​an​ ​unforgettable​ ​experience​ ​for​ ​Houston Community​ ​College​ ​(HCC)​ ​Southwest College​ staff member ​Yessenia​ ​Godinez Gonzales​ ​in​ ​more​ ​ways​ ​than​ ​one. The​ ​part-time​ ​HCC​ ​front​ ​desk​ ​receptionist​ at the West Loop Campus ​got engaged​ ​during​ ​the​ ​moment​ ​of​ ​totality.

“I​ ​was​ ​looking​ ​up​ ​at​ ​the​ ​eclipse​ ​with​ ​my​ ​protective​ ​lenses​ ​and​ ​when​ ​I​ ​looked​ ​down​ ​my boyfriend​ ​was​ ​on​ ​one​ ​knee​ ​with​ ​an​ ​engagement​ ​ring,”​​Yessenia​ ​said.​ ​“I​ ​cried.”

Yessenia​ ​and​ ​Omar​ ​Velez​ ​have known ​each​ ​other​ ​for​ ​13​ ​years​ ​and​ ​have​ ​been​ ​dating​ ​for​ ​three years.

“My​ ​engagement​ ​is​ ​a​ ​total​ ​surprise​ ​to​ ​me,”​ ​Yessenia​ ​said.​ ​“​​I​ ​cried​ ​because​ ​it​ ​has been​ ​years​ ​since​ ​we​ ​met ​and​ ​I​ ​was​ ​not​ ​expecting​ ​it,​ ​not​ ​anymore.”

Ironically, ​this​ ​bride-to-be,​ ​selected​ ​the​ ​day​ ​for​ ​her​ ​engagement without​ ​even realizing it.

“A​ ​week​ ​before​ ​our​ ​engagement, ​Omar​ ​asked​ ​me​ ​what​ ​event​ ​I found​ ​more​ ​appealing, the​ ​Solar​ ​Eclipse​ ​or​ ​the​ ​Renaissance​ ​Festival?”​ ​she​ ​said.​ ​“And​ ​because​ ​I​ ​have​ ​always been​ ​a​ ​fan​ ​of​ ​things​ ​that​ ​are​ ​unusual,​ ​I​ ​chose​ ​the​ ​eclipse.”

The​ ​couple​ ​has​ ​set​ ​a​n October date to be married​ ​in​ ​an​ ​intimate wedding​ ​ceremony​ ​and​ ​reception​​​ ​in​ ​Houston​ ​with​ ​their​ ​family​ ​and​ ​friends​ ​in attendance.​ ​The​ ​entire​ ​HCC​ ​family​ ​wishes​ ​them​ ​a​ ​lifetime​ ​of​ ​happiness​ ​as​ ​they​ ​embark on​ ​their​ ​new​ ​adventure​ ​together.