Hi! My name is Anna Jooste, and I’m so grateful to be part of the Baldwin Scholar community. I’m from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, though I was born in New York City and, in a way, consider South Africa my home because of my South African heritage, so I feel at home in multiple places. I come from a large, close-knit family and am one of four siblings, who are my pride and joy. Growing up in a household shaped by my South African immigrant parents, I’ve always felt deeply connected to the philosophy of Ubuntu (“I am because we are”), which has shaped how I see and interact with the world and value community.
I’ve loved puzzles since I was a child. In second grade, I taught myself how to solve the 3x3 Rubik’s Cube through YouTube tutorials and challenged myself to solve it without looking at my notes, eventually teaching my friends, siblings, and cousins how to solve it too, wanting to share the joy. My love for puzzles didn’t stop with the Rubik’s Cube. I became the “riddle master” at family dinners, quizzing everyone with new riddles I’d discovered that day.
As I grew older, my curiosity expanded beyond brainteasers to engineering solutions that could help solve real-world problems. Volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse, where I worked with individuals with disabilities, sparked my interest in assistive technology. It was there that I realized the power of design in enhancing lives and empowering people. Now, as a student at Duke, I’m excited to apply that passion for problem-solving to my studies in engineering, with a focus on creating innovations that improve accessibility and quality of life for people with disabilities.
I’ve always valued the advice and wisdom shared with me by the women in my life. Whether through my family, mentors, or the books I read (like Brene Brown’s work on vulnerability and The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer), I am continuously inspired to practice mindfulness, self-reflection, and personal growth. The principles of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz are ones I try to live by daily – always being impeccable with my word, not taking things personally, not making assumptions, and always doing my best. I carry the values of Ubuntu with me into everything I do – I strive to lift others up, celebrate community, and connect with those around me.
I’m especially excited to learn from the incredible women of the Baldwin community. Their diverse stories and experiences are sure to inspire us all to grow in new and unexpected ways. When I’m not in class, you might find me cheering on Duke’s sports teams, exploring the POD (the wonderful engineering makerspace), spending time with friends, or simply enjoying a sunset.