I am in the Coastal Environmental Management Program at the Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University. I was born and raised in New York City but had always been awed and impressed by the grandeur of the sea. I chose to pursue women's studies and political science as an undergraduate. However, my intrigue in coastal matters led me to work as a field technician for an estuary program and subsequently earn a US Coast Guard Captain's License. My time at the Nicholas School has allowed me to use my background in social science and new-found skills and knowledge in marine ecology to study the different facets of Coastal Management.