Love is a difficult test of time and patience. In high school, it tends to be tougher.

But for high school sweethearts, like biology teacher Corrie Stieglitz and her husband, Benjamin Stieglitz, both West Chicago graduates, the difficult journey was worth it.

It all started with a red colored pencil.

“I asked him for one in world geography class to color my map of Russia. That’s how we started talking. I had no bad preconceived notions of him. I thought he was really nice,” Corrie Stieglitz said.

After the encounter, Benjamin Stieglitz attempted to ask her on a date.

“It was sophomore year when he asked, ‘wanna go to a movie? My mom will drive.’ I said ‘no,’” Corrie Stieglitz laughed.

But regardless of the rejection, Corrie and Benjamin Stieglitz developed a deep and wonderful friendship.

“We were just friends for a really long time. We got to really know each other. We went to prom together. He basically became my best friend. He still is my best friend. I can’t wait to always tell him first whatever it is that I am excited about because I know he will feel the same excitement as I do,” Corrie Stieglitz said.

It wasn’t until the near end of high school that Corrie Stieglitz and Benjamin Stieglitz began to date.

“Junior year was when he asked me to go with him to a Blackhawks game and I said to myself, ‘Why not? He’s been very nice to you. Go for it, Corrie.’ I begged my mom and she said ‘ok.’ I thought that was pretty brave of him to actually come back and ask again after being turned down,” Corrie Stieglitz said.

But unfortunately, after graduating, they went their separate ways.

“I did not think at all that we would last after high school. If he was sitting here he would say yes, but I believed there was more to this world and I was going to get out of West Chicago. You know, the whole ‘I’m so out of here and there’s more than this,’ stance, but look at me now,” Corrie laughed. “I’ve worked here for 17 years. I’m right back where I started with the guy who I met right in this very school. But he would say, ‘I always knew.’ That’s what he’s always told me. We had two different attitudes.”

Thankfully, Corrie and Benjamin Stieglitz were reunited and eventually got married.

“After graduation hit, I didn’t think I would marry him. Both of our parents thought we would get married. My parents just loved him. They were like, ‘Oh, he’s such the right guy.’ They always said ‘yes’, especially to the Blackhawks game. That’s actually where we went when we got engaged, the Blackhawks game,” Corrie Stieglitz said. “I like that I was wrong. I like that I’ve known him for this long.”

Corrie Stieglitz utilizes her love story as a lesson to students.

“I like to tell them to not be so quick to jump into a relationship. I think the thing that made (our relationship) pass the test of time is how long we took to get to know each other before being serious and deeply committed,” Corrie Stieglitz said. “It shouldn’t be so serious right away.”