For people currently working in oceanography

So I'm hoping to start an associates program relatively soon, then transfer to my local university for a bachelors in oceanography with a minor in marine conservation and ecology. Education after that point will be determined when I decide on which part of oceanography I enjoy most.

My main concern is the difficulty of classes, primarily physics, but also chemistry and calculus. If you work in a related field, what's your position and in what scenarios have you used the skill sets learned from those classes? Knowing the real-world application of them helps motivate me in areas like that. I just want to know what I'm taking those classes for specifically, if that makes sense. I'm interested in any and all fields based around the ocean, including engineering.