Building My ePortfolio on Wix: The First Steps of a Personal and Professional Journey
- Thomas Robinson
- Jun 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 26
Putting together an ePortfolio was one of those tasks I knew mattered, but I honestly didn’t expect it to feel so personal and reflective until I got into it. Like a lot of people, I started out with Google Sites—it was straightforward and easy to use, nothing fancy. But when I started thinking more seriously about how I wanted to present myself professionally, I realized I needed something with more personality and flexibility—something that really represented me. That’s what led me to try out Wix, and I haven’t looked back since. Before I even touched the design, I took a step back to think about what I really wanted my portfolio to say about me. I didn’t want it to be just a place to dump assignments—I wanted it to tell a story about who I am, not just as a student or professional, but as a person, too. That shift in perspective changed everything for me. It turns out, I’m not alone: research by Shroff, et al. (2013) shows that building an ePortfolio helps students connect the dots between different experiences and reflect on both personal and academic growth. That’s exactly what I was hoping to get out of this whole process. When I finally got clear on what I wanted, I shopped around for platforms and quickly realized Wix worked best for my needs—it was easy to get the hang of, and I could play with the design without any coding headaches, and trust me I have had them in the past. I didn’t bother making things perfect from the start. Instead, I just jotted down a rough plan on a sticky note: a homepage, a spot to introduce myself, my resume, a Projects page, a place for reflections, and a way for people to reach out. Having that simple outline kept me from getting overwhelmed and gave me something solid to build on as I went. Once I started adding content, things really began to come together. I chose some of my best academic projects, a couple of class presentations I was actually proud of, and even dug up a few personal reflections I’d written along the way. To make my portfolio feel lively and inviting, I mixed in images, PDFs, and links—anything that would break up the text and make it easier (and more fun) to click around. According to the University of Waterloo (2025), using different formats—like text, visuals, and videos—can give people a more complete sense of who you are and what you’re capable of. That definitely matched my experience; the more variety I included, the more my site started to feel like it actually belonged to me. Along the way, I picked up a few things I wish I’d known from the start. First off: don’t stress about making everything perfect the first time around. Just tackle one page at a time, and things will start to come together. I found it helped to type out my ideas in Google Docs before putting them up on the site—it made editing way less painful. And honestly, asking someone else to check out your site early on is a lifesaver. A friend’s fresh eyes can spot what’s confusing or what could be clearer way better than you can after staring at it for hours. Of course, there have been a few bumps. Getting the mobile version to look right has driven me a little bit nuts—Wix’s preview is handy, but real phones still mess things up, so I’ve spent a lot of time moving images and margins around. Writing the reflection pieces has also been trickier than I thought. It’s tough to be real about how I’ve grown while also keeping things professional and not rambling, but I’m learning as I go. I’ve realized that being honest in these reflections is a big part of what makes the whole ePortfolio worth doing in the first place. One section I’m genuinely proud of is my Projects page. That’s where I showcase the work that matters most to me—and I try to explain not just what I did, but why it’s important and how it fits with who I’m becoming. Batson (2010) points out that the best ePortfolios don’t just display your accomplishments; they help you make sense of your experiences and connect them to your personal story. That’s exactly what I’m working toward, and honestly, it feels pretty rewarding when everything starts to click. Overall, switching from Google Sites to Wix was a smart move for me. Having more creative freedom forced me to really think about how I present myself online. Sure, it’s been a learning process and there’s still plenty I want to tweak, but now I’ve got a site that actually feels like my own—and it’s something I can keep improving as I grow. If you’re just setting out on your own ePortfolio adventure, here’s my advice: don’t get stuck waiting for everything to be perfect. Begin with the stories and work you already have. Focus on what you want people to know about you. And give yourself permission to figure it out along the way—the learning really does happen as you go.
References
Batson, T. (2010, January 06). ePortfolios let me count the way: Campus
Technology.
Shroff, R. H., Trent, J., & Ng, E. M. W. (2013). Using e-portfolios in a field experience
placement: Examining student-teachers' attitudes towards learning in relationship to personal
value, control and responsibility. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 29(2), 143–160.
University of Waterloo, Centre for Teaching Excellence. (n.d.). ePortfolios explained: Theory
and practice.
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