When I saw this assignment for both of my classes this semester, it looked as though it was going to be a daunting task. I have set up a business website before, but showcasing something other than my artwork or products was a scary notion. I have never shared any of my coursework with the world before, and this portfolio just lets it all hang out there for the world to see.
After the initial shock of the assignment, I sat down and planned how to tackle the task. I have prior experience with WordPress, so I knew that was going to be the platform I chose to build my site with. I had initially considered making this portfolio an extension of my business website but felt that it was better to keep them separate. After purchasing the custom domain name, and having my tech/web developer husband install WordPress on our server, I set about creating my site.
I decided to stay with the same colors, and theme that my business website has as I have already established that as my brand and this is just an extension of that brand. I chose to keep everything clean and simple with black, white, and small pops of blush & coral pink. The template I’m using helps create ease of navigation from page to page, as well as displaying the content in an easy format. I chose to use the custom font that I used for my logo as my headers on each page. While it’s not my actual handwriting, it does lead you to think that I wrote each page header and my logo on the website.
As I sit here writing this reflection, I realize I enjoyed this project more than I thought I would. It wasn’t as daunting of a task as I have experience using WordPress and this particular theme. Having my colors, fonts, and theme already chosen made the site building quick and easy. Adding all of the required information took me some time to revise, convert to a blog or PDF, and create relevant pages. I enjoyed creating all of the images on my home and about me page. That’s where I excel in all of this if we’re being honest! The biggest thing I struggled with was my about me section. It’s a lot harder to write about yourself than you think it is! I feel I did it well, and I am now in love with that page, I think it’s probably my favorite on the whole website! The biggest resource I used was my husband’s knowledge of website building because I do not know how to take a domain name make it a website and install anything on our server.
Now that I’m at the end of this project and reflecting on my new digital portfolio, I’m so glad I created it! I think it turned out beautifully and I’m proud of everything I’ve shared on the site.
Now that I’m at the end of this project and reflecting on my new digital portfolio, I’m so glad I created it! While I have mentioned in other journals I submitted this semester that I never truly saw myself as a writer until this class, this project has solidified that feeling. Being able to see the works I have created all in one place really makes the statement “I’m a writer” hit home. I wouldn’t have said that at the beginning of this semester. I didn’t think I’d learn or feel that way about myself until after graduation.
While I do think my writing identity is a work in progress, I can say without a doubt today that I’m a writer and I couldn’t be prouder. I can’t wait to continue my studies at the University of Central Florida and add more to my portfolio.
