Michelle Youngis looking forward toClayton Echard’s season ofThe Bachelor.

In an interview with PEOPLE at KIIS FM’s iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in Inglewood, California, the 28-year-oldBachelorettestar said she is “excited” to watch her former suitor find love on season 26 ofThe Bachelor, which premieres Jan. 3, 2022.

“I mean, he was always just so kind,” Young said Friday of her interactions with the 28-year-old former NFL player on the current season ofThe Bachelorette.

The elementary school teacher added that she felt Echard was “always” focused on “self-growth and working on himself” on the ABC reality show.

“He was in this, like, constant state of reflection,” she told PEOPLE. “And in our conversations, it was just really cool to see him kind of reflect and open up and then move forward and just, you know, and so the fact that he gets this opportunity to find his person.”

Echard was announced as the upcomingBachelorat the end of November, one week after Youngsent him homeonThe Bachelorette. The next day, the reality star confessed to finding love on his season in an interview withGood Morning America.

Amy Sussman/Getty

Michelle Young attends 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2021 Presented By Capital One at The Forum on December 03, 2021 in Inglewood, California.

“I did find love,” Echard shared. “I was a little skeptical going into the whole journey, but I’m so pleasantly surprised that things worked out much different than I thought. Again, I’m just so excited to watch it back and have everyone else watch it as well.”

The medical sales rep said he began his journey with “a checklist of sorts” that the women quickly exceeded.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I was looking for somebody that was funny, intelligent, driven, put forth effort, and so I figured, ‘Okay, that’s a good list and hopefully I’ll find that,'” he said. “Well, what I found was very quickly the women blew my expectations out of the water.”

Michelle Young and Clayton Echard.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Michelle Young, Clayton Echard arrives at the 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2021 Presented By Capital One at The Forum on December 03, 2021 in Inglewood, California.

He added, “They brought all of that and so much more, so the expectations continued to rise, and I realized that, ultimately, I was going to find everything that I wanted and so much more.”

“I feel like I makethe right decisionin the end — it takes me a minute,” the reality star said at the time, adding that she is “very happy with the experience.”

The Bacheloretteairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

source: people.com