THEMES AND CONNECTIONS IN THE PORTFOLIO

I want my portfolio to be a reflection of my writing, which is scholarly and literary. I chose to keep the background images in the realm of books, libraries, words, shadows, etc., to keep things cohesive, Furthermore, I chose to use a dark red as the main color palette to pair with the poems and writings about wounds that are so frequent in the portfolio. This is all to maintain an air of severity and poignancy. The writing is often intense and explorations of the tender parts of identity, so I wanted the theme to reflect that. I think it all “feels like me in terms of personality and is a simple, yet bright way to showcase me and my work.

The pieces of the portfolio are connected through explorations of wounds as a concept; my theory of writing, my poems, and my short stories all illustrate the working-through of wounds as a way of attaining understanding. Most of the work was written in English classes, so they engage with different literary genres and works, which pairs with my own creative work, too. These connections are represented organically down the pages of the portfolio. Each piece isn’t necessarily meant to be read alone and I think the way I’ve laid out the headpieces showcases an interconnectedness through the literary and scholarly voice I have cultivated over the last few years.

I see this portfolio potentially being an easy and accessible way to market my skills as a writer. While my resume works to show my accomplishments, my portfolio will allow potential employers (or admission officers if I link this portfolio as supplementary material alongside a writing sample) to actually engage with my writing and understand my abilities in scholarly and creative settings. It will also be a way to illustrate recent and past work to show growth as I continue to add to it. Additionally, creating this portfolio has shown me how I can effectively market myself and my work through digital formats.

As for my academic learning at DU, this portfolio is really illustrating how much I’ve developed as a writer during college. One of my academic and personal goals has been to establish a distinct writing voice; making this portfolio has shown me where I have succeeded and where I can still improve with this goal in mind. It has been a wonderful way to reflect on my writing and is a lovely culmination of work that I can really be proud of.