I’m a student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a 3.48 GPA and have helped to build a website for a non-profit organization called Arkansas Freedom Fund. Over the last 3 years I have worked to better my skills with HTML and CSS to better understand what it takes to create a website. I’ve helped to build websites, both personal and public, and I feel ready to take on that job in a professional setting.
Elevator Speech
Hi, my name is Michael Carpenter and I’m a student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a major in website design and development seeking a position with a website design and management company. I have helped to create a website for a non-profit organization already and am continuing to learn the new developments with HTML and CSS. I work well with both clients and co-workers. I would enjoy knowing more about your company.
Cover Letter
111 Deer Road
Fontain, AR 71111
870-224-6656
John Doe
Head Doe
Doe Design Co.
123 Forest Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72204
4/14/18
Dear Mr. Doe,
I am applying for the Web Development position posted on your site. At your convenience, I’d appreciate the opportunity to discuss the position with you. You will find my resume attached with this.
I am looking to bring my web development, technical writing, and graphic design skills to a needed position.
Experience and skills for the position include:
- HTML and CSS development. I’ve helped to design and setup a website for and Arkansas based non-profit organization called Arkansas Freedom Fund, which allows Veterans to sign up for events that keep them active and also allows for access to handicap accessible machines to allow for outdoor enjoyment.
It would be wonderful to find out more about the position you’re looking to fill, and I would welcome the opportunity to tell you how my skills and ideas can benefit your company. I can be reached at (111)111-1111 or this@gmail.com.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Michael Carpenter
Who am I?
My name is Michael Carpenter. I am a Web Design and Development major at University of Arkansas at Little Rock. This site functions as a portfolio for work that I have done throughout my studies.
Centered between four departments, the Web Design and Development major has exposed me to elements of website development such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as taught by the information science department. It also exposed me to technical writing skills used by the department of rhetoric, media production and advertisement creation techniques used by the department of mass communications, and graphic design skills used by the department of studio art.
I hope to eventually put these skills to use by building websites for others on my own or building and managing websites for a company. Thanks to being spread out between different departments, however, I have been able to gain skills that are valuable in many ways besides just web design. In case I decide web design may not be for me, or I have issues finding a web design job specifically, I have enough skill in things like graphic design and technical writing to have a chance doing something along those lines as well.
The Web Design and Development major has given me the opportunity to be a sort of jack-of-all-trades, which can be a very good thing. It means I have more than one option on what I may like to do. I have the skill to open doors for many different job opportunities in the future.
Thoughts on final project
Truth be told, I think our final project went really well. At first, we weren’t really talking that much as a group, but towards the end we all got very comfortable voicing our opinions to one another. We all worked well together in my opinion. And after hearing about what a few of the other groups went through, I’m glad I was in the group I was in. We all worked and helped each other when needed. If there was one thing I would change about this whole project, it would be that we were as open to voicing opinions on the first day as a group as we were on the last day. All in all, really enjoyed the group, work, and experience. Heres to hoping it goes just as well next semester.
Image Optimization
Progressive Enhancement
Progressive Enhancement is building a site and letting the main priority be content. Since that’s what building sites is all about, it’s a pretty good idea to follow. It involves keeping all three parts of a site separated and focusing heavily on the mark up. Once that is done, adding the css but also keeping in mind that some people may have limited access to what they can and can’t see on the web. Lastly, adding the JavaScript, but making sure to keep it simple and unobtrusive. Here is a bit more info on Progressive Enhancement. https://www.mavenecommerce.com/blog/progressive-enhancement-vs-graceful-degradation/
Space X Dragon Project
So, for this project I decided to make a multiple page site to put all the content in. It worked well, I couldn’t quite get my colors how I wanted them but it still looks good. I worked on changing my banner from the feedback, and I made one I enjoy. For my next site though, I think I may try a single page with anchor points. I’m getting a bit tired of the standard multi-page layout. Something new to try I guess.
Reflective Practice
- A situation with a friend a few years ago could have ended better. We were friends for a very long time and we ended up losing that friendship after this situation.
- We ended up getting into a heated argument about how we had both been acting towards one another. It happened about a year and a half ago and neither of us have talked since.
- In truth, I behaved terribly. We had both been arguing for almost an entire week and we were both very angry. I lost my patients and said some hurtful things, which led to them saying hurtful things. I’ve learned I don’t need to lose my patients so easily.
- The outcome was both expected and unexpected. I knew there would be a fight, but the severity still caught me off guard. If we both had just taken a breath and calmly talked things out, we might still be friends.
- Knowing what I know now, I could be calm about the situation. The issue this all started over was foolish and if I knew what I know now, we may still be friends. I know now to just breath and not lose my cool. Talk things out and understand both sides of the story.
Peer Site Review
Last week, we partnered up with someone else in class and looked over each others websites. It was nice seeing someone else’s ideas on how to conquer this project. We also had to give feedback, which I found super helpful. I found out what I could do to make my site look better and some cool tricks to try out.
Random Thoughts 