For the longest time, I knew I needed a portfolio but I kept pushing it. It’s one of those things every developer talks about but often puts off. I had my projects sitting on my computer and GitHub, but I didn’t have one place where I could tie it all together . talking about who I am, what I do, and what I’ve built. I recently started a 12 weeks goal streak and one of my task was to build a personal portfolio and that got me excited as I wont be having any excuse again.
I chose React.js as it was one of the tech stack I would be learning during this period and also because it gave me the flexibility without having to start from scratch every time. The first thing I set up was the Home Page. I wanted it to feel personal, so I added a profile picture and two big buttons: Contact Me and View Projects as quick CTA’s as instructed by my coach for easy access.
Then came the About Page, where I wrote a little about myself and my skills. Writing that part was surprisingly harder than coding, talking about yourself is never easy but I was able to put something together. The Projects Page followed and I added cards with images and links to live demos of my work. Seeing them all lined up felt like I was putting together a digital gallery of everything I’d learned.
Of course, there were challenges. My images didn’t load the first time, I ran into GitHub issues while deploying, and CSS had me scratching my head more times than I’d like to admit. At one time I spent almost 72 hours trying to get my images to display. But each little problem taught me something new. I realized that even small details, like file paths and button styling, can make or break a website.
When it came time to put it online, I used GitHub Pages. Typing npm run deploy and then actually seeing my site live for the first time was a special moment, the kind that makes all the debugging worth it. Am telling you building something for me is always very satisfying.
More than just a website, this portfolio feels like a milestone. It’s not perfect (and probably never will be), but it’s a starting point. A place I can point people to and say: “This is me. This is what I’ve built. And this is where I’m heading.”
What I Learned Along the Way
• Building is the best way to learn and incorporating smart tools into your build process will make your journey easier.
• Small problems stack up, but solving them builds confidence.
• A portfolio is more than code, it’s a reflection of your journey.
You can view my portfolio by clicking here
I will love you to stay with me on this journey. This is my first post here but am surely going to keep it coming. Lets grow together, learning is fun
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