I'm Carol Newark, an undergraduate at the Pennsylvania State University. I intend to graduate in 2014. I'm a Crime, Law and Justice major, and a Psychology major. I'm also minoring in Spanish and Sociology. I have learned a lot about myself in the past year. I now know that I have to do what makes me happy, not what other people want me to do. I came to Penn State as an Environmental Resource Management major, changed my major to English, and eventually found my place with Crime, Law, and Justice. When I was a little girl I always wanted to be a detective, but for some reason I abandoned that dream when I applied to Penn State. I am very happy that I realized what a mistake I was making before it was too late. I am so happy to be studying something that I am passionate about. Naturally, I am passionate about many other things, and this portfolio is a reflection of that. Sure, I love what I'm studying in school, but that does not entirely define who I am. I love photography, books, dance, film cameras, history, music, hockey, and laughter. My family and friends have helped to shape who I am, but I like to think that I've helped to shape who they are as well. So much of my coursework this year has been inspired by my family, my friends, or my interests. I find it very hard for me to do something well if I have no connection to it, even if that means that I must feign interest in a topic for a few weeks. I understand that I am driven by my emotions. I know that being like that is not always a good thing, but coming to understand this about myself has helped me immensely. Every piece included in this portfolio reflects my personality and my interests. I put my heart and soul into all of my work, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Carol Newark's E-Portfolio
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The Rhetoric Around Me
I'm starting to see everything in my life as a piece of rhetoric. When we were told in the beginning of the year that we would eventually see everything as a rhetorical artifact, I was skeptical. I thought, "there is no way that I will ever learn how to pick stuff like that out," but here I am, sitting in the Atherton lobby, identifying the rhetoric behind everything. Walk into any other hall on campus, and what do you see in the lobby? Surely it is not as nice as the Atherton lobby. I'm sitting on a couch that is nicer than the one I have in my home, in an open and well lit space. The walls are painted a soft, calming blue, and "Schreyer Honors College" is painted in gold along the interesting curved architecture. The first time I walked in here with my family, my mom said, "holy crap, Carol! this is certainly an upgrade from the house, huh?" I love my house, but she was right. The Atherton lobby gives its visitors the impression that this hall is all about high class. Why though? Why the Atherton lobby? Simmons is part of the honors college as well, and it is not nearly as impressive. Atherton houses the offices of the honors college, so it must look fancy, or at least the lobby needs to look fancy. Take a step inside one of the doors leading to the dorm rooms, and it is like you are a completely different building. Instead of being inside a classy hotel, you are back in a college dorm. If only important people here on honors college business had to come through the dorm hallways, then maybe our dorms would be just as impressive.
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