From classmates to soulmates: Couple gets engaged at exact coordinates where they met in Polk State Nursing Program

28.0336° N, 81.7138° W is more than just a set of coordinates—it’s the place where two Polk State College students found each other amidst the hustle of nursing school. The spot nestled on the Winter Haven Campus holds a deeply sentimental meaning for Natalie Tala and Zack Baksh.

In 2018, among the pressure of exams and the challenge of mastering medical skills, Tala and Baksh first crossed paths in the Polk State Nursing Program. What started as a shared academic journey soon blossomed into a love story, built on long hours of studying and getting to know each other. When the time came for Baksh to take the next step in their story, he knew exactly where he wanted to propose—the very spot where it all began at 28.0336° N, 81.7138° W.

On November 10, 2024, surrounded by the memories of their late-night study sessions and shared dreams, Baksh got on one knee and asked Tala to marry him. With Tala’s exuberant “yes,” their love story came full circle—proof that sometimes, the most extraordinary journeys start in the most unexpected places.

Full-circle moment

“It couldn’t have been a better location or a better moment,” Tala exclaimed. “This spot means so much to us. For our first anniversary, Zack gave me a bracelet with these coordinates. Getting engaged at the spot where we first met and spent countless hours just talking and spending time together throughout nursing school was really a full-circle moment.”

Baksh first came to Polk State College as a student in its collegiate high school program. Inspired by members of his family who work in healthcare, he decided to pursue a career in nursing and called it a no-brainer to continue his education at Polk State.

“It’s the local, affordable option,” he said. “But the Nursing Program is known for being rigorous and producing the best nurses. That’s the program I wanted to be in.”

Tala was also drawn to the program’s success, affordability, and proximity to home. Baksh recalls seeing Tala for the first time in their first semester.

“I asked my friends who the cute girl in the pink scrubs was,” he laughed. “Then, we crossed paths in the parking lot.”

The parking lot where they would pledge to marry one another six years later.

Growing together

That same semester, Baksh was in a car crash that set him back in the program. He had to repeat the first semester, while Tala moved forward.

However, this presented an opportunity for Tala to help Baksh with his studies, strengthening their immediate bond.

“She was a big part of my support system,” Baksh reflected. “She was able to give me a heads up on what was to come in the program; what I needed to be studying and looking out for. She was able to guide me, and I was really grateful for that.”

At times, Baksh wasn’t sure if he would make it through. But Tala was there to support and motivate him, and he provided the same in return.

“The Nursing Program is rigorous. Sometimes I thought, ‘Will I make it out?’” he added. “But Nat was there for me and helped me through.”

Polk State’s Nursing Program boasted 100% licensure pass rates for the last three quarters of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024.

“We’re growing together, personally and professionally. It’s a special experience.”

“You can tell when you are in the hospital, that those who are trained at Polk State stand out from the rest,” he said. “I am proud to say I’ve come from Polk State and I’m also proud of Nat and the incredible nurse that she has become.”

Tala received her Associate in Science in Nursing in 2020 and Baksh achieved his degree in 2021. They are both pursuing their Polk State Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees while they serve as nurses for Lakeland Regional Health. They are on track to graduate in May.

Baksh described Tala: “She’s meticulous. Her charting is top-tier. Her bedside manner is exceptional. Seeing the way that she treats patients and people inspires me to be a better nurse.”

Tala, in turn, described Baksh: “He’s strong, confident, and caring. He is very calm in his approach to nursing and always has the best interest of the patient at heart.”

Baksh works on the cardiology floor while Tala serves in the intensive care unit. They will both transfer to Lakeland Regional Health’s new freestanding emergency department set to open this year in South Lakeland.

“It’s exciting because we get to be part of the foundation of this brand-new building,” Tala said. “We’ll be the first team at this Lakeland Regional location and we’re really proud of that.”

“We’re growing together,” Baksh added, “personally and professionally. It’s a special experience.”

School, work & wedding planning

Tala will work the day shift, while Baksh will work nights. Luckily, they’re no strangers to balancing demanding schedules, always setting time aside to spend together, no matter how busy life gets.

“Polk State helped me with my time management, expectations, and the importance of planning and preparation,” Tala explained. “We have a strong foundation.”

Their commitment to each other and their profession comes through in every aspect of their lives. Between caring for patients, finishing their bachelor’s degrees, and planning a wedding, the couple has learned to prioritize what matters most.

When asked about juggling school, work, and wedding planning, Tala laughed it off with the confidence of a seasoned professional.

“I’m not stressed about it, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been,” she said. Her calm demeanor reflects the lessons she’s learned throughout her nursing education—lessons that are deeply rooted in the foundation laid by Polk State.

For Baksh, his perspective on time management is influenced by his career choice as much as his relationship.

“One thing that attracted me to the nursing profession was the schedule,” he explained. “I like that I can work three 12-hour days, then have four days off. It gives me a lot of time for family.”

He’s already envisioning a future where both his professional and personal lives flourish, and he’s grateful for the flexibility nursing offers to help him achieve that.

As they prepare to graduate with their bachelor’s degrees and embark on the next chapter of their lives, their shared journey at Polk State College has given them the tools they need to succeed in both their professional and personal lives. The same College that brought them together has prepared them to serve as exceptional nurses, ready to contribute to the local workforce and make a lasting impact on the lives of those they care for.