Located on the southern tip of the Outer Banks, the Duke University Marine Lab (DUML) represents the inextricably close connection between humans and the ocean. It is rare to find an academic institution where students can engage in field projects on state-of-the-art research vessels, learn about marine ecology in Belize, Singapore, and Puerto Rico, and refer to world-renowned scientists like Dr. Cindy Van Dover or Dr. Andy Read on a first-name basis. I got to spend my last semester at DUML, and every day would be filled with excitement from flipping oyster bags to shark tagging. I couldn’t imagine my college experience without my time here, a time that gave me life-long friendships, memories, and a better understanding of the world.