Original Portfolio Website (WordPress Edition)
The Need
Prior to creating my portfolio website, I only had LinkedIn and my resume to showcase my work. Additionally, around the time I decided I wanted to set up my own website, I had been wrapping up my WGU capstone project. Really, wanting to show off my capstone project was the catalyst behind me creating my portfolio/resume website.
The Project
When I had initially decided to take this project on, I was debating between using Square Space or another service along those lines or creating a WordPress website with a hosting provider. I ended up deciding to go the WordPress route.
Wanting to show off the work completed on my WGU capstone, I was able to create a page highlighting that experience. However, having a website enabled me to also highlight other work I had completed including work on the 1:1 schools while working with the Washoe County School District as well as other personal projects including labs and computer building. At the time, I really did not have many projects or experience to highlight. However, having a website provided me with a place to highlight the experience I did have and what I was working on.
In addition to the projects and labs, my website provided me with an excellent place to upload my resume and provided me a place for me to tell my story and highlight the certifications I had completed.
The website itself was created using WordPress and Elementor. Elementor made it very easy to create a visually appealing website using drag and drop components. Additionally, Elementor provided me with the ability to have templates for the various pages and styles used on the website.
Challenges and Thoughts
The biggest challenge associated with spinning my website up was having no previous experience with web design, minus a few high school courses taken years prior to me pursuing this project. After watching a few YouTube videos and some online research, I was able to create my website and get it to look how I wanted it to.
For the most part, the content on the website stayed the same except for me uploading additional projects and periodically updating my resume.
Having a website really was beneficial for me. It provided me with confidence in my abilities and provided talking points when speaking to potential employers.
Never underestimate the importance of having an online presence!
Forward to Website 2.0 ⏩
Fast forward to 2024, with expanded knowledge, and more experience under my belt, I have been at a crossroads with how to proceed with my WordPress website. Although I did find a benefit in having a website, the price I was paying for hosting and the small amount of traffic I was receiving made me need to consider options with how to proceed with my website.
This led me to the decision to proceed with a reimagining of my portfolio website. Enter version 2.0.