Mandy has aspired to become a marine biologist since she was nine years old, when her third grade class took a field trip to Puget Sound, where she spent the day exploring the shoreline and peering into tide pools. “I had always loved science and being outdoors, but on that day I found that the ocean held a certain fascination for me that forever shaped my plans for the future.” Mandy is now a senior at the University of Michigan, studying ecology and oceanography. She intends to continue her education through Ph.D. and to teach and do research in marine ecology and conservation at the university level. She is excited to have the opportunity to learn a valuable new skill in diving, knowing it is an essential start in her career choice.