Hi! My name is Caroline Joo, and I’m honored to be a Baldwin Scholar of the Class of 2026! I’m a middle child with an older brother and younger sister from Ramsey, New Jersey, a small suburban town an hour outside NYC, and I’m planning to major in sociology with a minor in chemistry on the pre-med track.
My passion lies in dissecting how identifying as a woman impacts one’s experiences in the healthcare industry and society at large. Specifically, I am interested in exploring the nuances within the cosmetic surgery industry and how it may either hinder or bolster feminist ideals.
Outside of the academic realm, I have a sincere appreciation and love for music, and my friends will tell you that I’m always singing. My favorite artists include Joey Bada$$, Taylor Swift, Lizzy McAlpine, and Frank Ocean, but I enjoy listening to a wide array of musicians and genres. I play the guitar, bass, piano, and several other instruments, and especially love singing and playing alongside my sister.
In the winter, I work as a snowboard instructor and supervisor of snowsports at a small, local ski mountain, called Campgaw. For the past four years, it has been my favorite way to enjoy nature, spend time with friends, and stay active. Every winter, my friends and I drive up to upstate New York, Vermont, and Canada to snowboard at larger resorts and experiment with new tricks on harder terrain.
I am a massive Golden State Warriors fan and never miss a single one of their games (even before exam days, much to my parents’ chagrin). Other than sports, I love watching movies and TV shows, as well as reading novels, my favorites being Top Gun Maverick, The Queen’s Gambit, and The Song of Achilles, respectively.
I’m extremely grateful and excited to be a member of the Baldwin Scholars, and I can’t wait to see what the next few years at Duke hold!