My E-Portfolio

Hello! My name is Kele Powell and on my E-Portfolio I have included a selections of my work which I have completed as an undergraduate student at Pennsylvania State University. I am a Crime, Law, and Justice major with a minor in Spanish. After graduating Penn State, I would like to be nearly fluent Spanish speaker. Also, I have become inspired to make a difference in our world and I would like to volunteer in the Peace Corps after college. I want to be a Youth & Community development volunteer and travel to South America where I can use my talents as a Spanish speaker to make a difference. Not only could I make a difference in the lives of young children but it would build my career as a potential lawyer. I plan to attend a prestigious law school and become a prosecutor or defense attorney.


At Penn State, I am learning about the United States’ Criminal Justice System and the Spanish language. I believe that I would make a successful criminal lawyer because I am hard working and very determined with a degree of toughness. I have an emotional commitment to justice and I want to use my talents to better the lives of others. The works I have included in this E-Portfolio demonstrate my proficiency in Spanish and my accomplishments as an undergraduate student. I hope that you will enjoy viewing the “Writing” section of my E-Portfolio. You can see through the various documents posted that I am an exceptional Spanish speaker who is strong and independent with valuable opinions. These documents range from Spanish and English papers to speeches. If you have any questions about my works please feel free to visit the “Contact” section of my E-Portfolio! I hope you enjoy your time spent on my page!

My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance

Randi is a single elementary school teacher from Arizona. She comes from a good family with good values. So why is she on reality tv? Fox offered to pay Randi 250,000 dollars if she could marry Steve and convince her family to accept her decision in a matter of 12 days. Also, if she succeeded her family would receive 250 grand as well.



The twist is that Steve is a paid actor who will make it hard on Randi to accomplish her goal. When Randi introduces her family to Steve and his family, they make an awful first impression. Randi's mom does not want this kind of future for her daughter and her brother refuses to go to the wedding. But, if she cannot get her entire family to come to the wedding and then make sure they dont object, then she will not win the prize money!

Basically Randi is humiliated on national television when she is standing at the alter and Steve confesses that he is a paid actor and the entire wedding was a scam. Her family is also embarrassed when they find out their Randi has lied to them. However, FOX gave Randi 500,000 dollars and also 500,000 to her family.

Now if you were approached by a major network like FOX and they offered you a quarter of a million dollars to go on reality tv what would you tell them?

I know for a fact that if i brought home someone "fat" and "obnoxious" to meet my parents they would not be thrilled. My dad would want nothing to do with him and my mom would pretend like she supported me, when really she would want to kill me. My brother would most likely punch Steve in the face and they would spend hours trying to convince me not to ruin my life before it even starts. I really dont think I could lie to my family for money? And i would be extremely mad when I found out that my partner in crime had other intentions? Not to mention that its against the Catholic religion to use the sacrament of Marriage when you know that youre not planning to spend the rest of your life with that person.

I guess that money and having 15 minutes of fame really changes the morals of society. Whenever someone sees a dollar bill they will do anything to put it in the back.

The "Bad Girls Club"

Essentially this reality TV program, Bad Girls Club (BGC for short), shows a cast of outrageous young women who live in a mansoin together. Seven "bad girls" between the ages of 21 to 27 live with one another for three moths. They recognize that their behavior in the past has hurt not only their relationships but their lives in general. They have a number of problems including personal, behavior, and psychological.

It has been airing since December 2006 and there are 6 seasons of the reality program. It is the first show on Oxygen to reach one million viewers. The girls each have different personalities, backgrounds, sexual orientations, and lives. They must try to live together without violating the rules that they are given before they move into the mansion.



Throughout the show the house is divided into cliques which creates massive amounts of drama.
The girls were given mandatory nonprofit jobs to help them build work ethic. The goal is for girls to work as a team in order to build relationships after the season is over.

On Season 5 a "bad girl" on the show was at a bar when an incident happened. Kristen was drugged from a man who bought her and another girl on the show. She says, "I had no idea wehre I was and had to go to the ER over night. They later discovered someone put PCP in my drink. They can't show it on the show because then that guy could sue for slander. I am honestly really upset they didn't explain that during the show. I think its really messed up how the entire story wasn't shown, whatever. Done!" She also got into an altercation with one of her room mates during the season.


Now, clearly the show isn't helping anyone with their bad habits or their lady like behavior. The show is meant to entertain the millions of viewers throughout the past 5 years. I am not sure why a young woman would volunteer to be on a show that embarrasses you on national television but I guess everyone has their interests. Our society enjoys watching bad behavior, just like the Jersey Shore.

Temptation Island

A "relationship" between a couple can be defined as a physical and emotional connection made between two people which is intimate with profound feelings involved. But, reality television has turned the meaning of a"relationship" into some kind of entertainment. There have been multiple shows following couples around an testing the boundaries of a relationship. The strength of a couples relationship is truly tested whenever they are put on national television for the entire world to judge how their "relationship" is not perfect.

FOX broadcast the show, Temptation Island. Four devoted young couples were transported to an exotic island. These couples agreed to live with a group of singles of the opposite sex. The overall point of the show was to test the strength of the couples relationships. There were three seasons with 26 episodes in total. The first season aired in January of 2001 and took place in Ambergris Caye, Belize. The next two seasons had bad ratings so the show stopped being aired after the third was broadcast.

After the location is selected for the season, the four couples are separated for twelve days. They are sent off to opposite ends of the island and coupled with singles. The males are surrounded with 13 georgeous women and the females stay with 13 sexy guys. Each of these singles are picked to test fideilty. On the last day of their stay on the "Temptation" Island the couples are reunited.

The entire point is to test the meaning of a true and devout "relationship." The couples are asked if they still want to be together or if they have chosen one of the single temptations. Not only are the couples separated but during the episodes the couples face a number of challenges. The couples test their relationships and find out the meaning of the word temptation.

NEXT

THE NEXT BUS

"Next" was an MTV reality dating show that had 285 episodes. A single man/woman looks for a significant other. Five other people, secluded in the "Next Bus" (posted above), come to meet the certain someone who is waiting for them at the bottom of the bus to go on a date. The show starts with an interview by the 5 people waiting on the bus. Heres an example: 

Embarrassing? Well it gets worse, once the girls step off of the bus the person waiting for their date can say the one word, "Next!", and the date is immediately over. The person is sent right back to the RV, never to see the single person again. The word "Next" has a negative connotation in this scope because it means that you don't fit the person's criteria then you're instantly off. The same process continues with the next person in line who is waiting on the bus. It was not uncommon for the single person to "next" a person within first sight of meeting them usually because they're unattractive. This was usually called being "Instantly Nexted". But, the date doesn't always end with the person being "nexted". A date can end if they feel that they have made a physical or emotional connection with they person while on the date. In this case, the man or women would say, "You have been on a date with me for ( amount of minutes), you can either take the (amount of money), and run, or go on a second date." The episode ends either when the contestant finds someone he or she is interested in, or if all the contestants were "nexted." Once there is a couple made or 6 single people, the Next bus continues on its way to the next scheduled date where people find their true partner.

Now that you now the layout of the show, lets talk about the impact this has on society. I know that growing up MTV was big in my group of friends. Therefore, whenever we saw a guy that we weren't interested in the word "next" would be said to make it known that he wasnt our type slash he had no chance. Awful right? Well at least I can say that I've matured since I was 13 years old? This is just an example of how reality TV can affect the youth and how a common word can have it's meaning changed after a reality TV show has set air.

The Flavor of Love

Now, you all knew this one was coming, The Flavor of Love, it was just as famous as it was ridiculous in 2006. It was a "successful" dating game show on VH1 with the rapper Flavor Flav from the Public Enemy.

There were actually three seasons of Flav trying to find his true love. Turns out, he did not end up marrying any of the 65 contestants and he married the mother of his 7th child instead. Yes, you read this correctly, at 52 years old he is the father of seven children and a grandfather to two children. Although William Jonathan Drayton Jr is a "recovering" drug addict and has spent time in jail, his reality TV shows were still major hits. I guess the trashy show was appealing to the millions of American viewers because it lasted for 39 episodes and it became a spin-off for many other shows.

Who wouldn't want to marry this?

Each lovely woman was given a nickname by Flav at the beginning of the season. Some of the most famous nicknames included Hoopz, Deelishis, New York, Black. The contestants consist of 20 girls from different races, ages and body types. Each time a contestant was eliminated their real name would be revealed and they had to say their goodbyes. It features a clock ceremony where contestants who are not eliminated receive gold clocks to wear around their necks with their picture behind the hands of the clock. When a contestant is eliminated, her real name is then revealed, followed by a champagne toast. The women, selected for their "personalities", compete for Flav's affection in contests. The show centers on Mr. Flav’s selection of a “mate,” as opposed to a “girlfriend” since many of the participants’ on-air activities resemble animal behavior more than the standard conventions of modern, non-catfight-based courtship.


All in all, America watched this famous rapper nickname women based upon their physical appearance, make out with them on television, and hand out clocks. We are definitely headed in the right direction guys, right towards stupidity, low standards, and immorality.  But I guess, the shiny clocks and flashy clothes could be the reason that the shows audience was persuaded into watching the 60 minute episodes religiously. On the other hand, after seeing a second of that man's teeth and his over sized watch I immediately changed the channel.

Paris Hilton’s My New BFF

When I refer to my best friend I think of the first person who you call when you're making plans. It is a term of endearment that only few people should be called. They are the first person you go to when you need someone to confide in and they always know how to make you happy. Not to mention, whenever youre in trouble they will come right to your side. They truly care about you and they would never want to see you hurt. Maybe this exact word is what attracted people to this obscene and chaotic show. But, when Paris Hilton and "BFF" are used in the same sentence, it worries me. Therefore, the title of this reality TV show alone should be a hint for everyone out there to turn the channel. It was a shallow and meaningless competition aired on MTV in 2008 for princess Paris to find a "true" friend.

 “My New BFF” is an example of how many beauty obsessed, money crazy, material girls you can fit in front of one camera.  Personally, I would never give Paris the satisfaction of thinking that she was anyone's best friend. I believe that Paris Hilton's idea of a "best friend" is someone who will tell her she looks skinny, will follow her around constantly giving her compliments, and probably take the blame for anything the media found Paris doing that month.  The word is completely distorted whenever it comes out of her mouth, anyone who says "BFF" in the first place is a complete loon. No gracias Paris.

The winner of the first series was named Brittany Flickinger. But, she didn't last. She was dropped within the blink of an eye. I thought the last "F" stood for forever? Apparently not. The "winner" of the second season isn't even woth mentioning because the same exact thing happened to her. In conclusion, you can say that they wasted months of their lives. Smart.