The Portfolio Dilemma
As a student at Eastern Michigan University, I’ve found myself stuck in a frustrating paradox, which I’m sure many other students can relate to. How am I supposed to, one: afford college, two: build a portfolio that reflects my skills, and three: gain real-world practice? All of this is expected to be accomplished before we even graduate. But is that even feasible? I’ve worked wherever I could get hired just to stay afloat financially. But when you're chasing income just to survive, how do you also gain valuable skills and build a portfolio that reflects your talent? This is the problem that’s left me feeling stuck. I have the income, but not the relevant experience. Simply put, it’s the portfolio dilemma.
So far, the skills I’ve gained are in fast food service, janitorial and teaching work, and helping people style outfits at a retail job. Can you guess what I’m majoring in based on that? Probably not. I’m not a teaching major, or a communications major, or even a fashion major. I’m a double major in Economics and Marketing. None of the jobs I’ve had (at a daycare, KFC, or Buckle) have given me opportunities to predict market trends or design product campaigns. I’m heading into my junior year with no hands-on experience in my field. So, the question nags at me: am I just wasting time, or am I not good enough to catch that lucky break?
This question creates a ripple effect of stress for many students in higher education. Instead of feeling excited and prepared to enter the job market after graduation, I fear I’ll walk away with nothing but paper, some memorized formulas, and zero application. Unless you’re lucky enough to afford unpaid internships or have personal connections in your field, chances are you feel the same. Stressed. Unprepared. Defeated. The tens of thousands of dollars we’ve spent on education once felt like a smart investment, but recently, that investment has started to feel more intimidating than inspiring. That was, until I started working alongside Sierra Lambert, someone passionate, creative, and community-focused. Who has allowed me to be proud of what I do for work once again.
“Empowering individuals and small businesses to thrive”
Through Sierra, I began helping develop the visuals and branding for her company, Gig-L (pronounced "giggle"), and for the first time, my work felt meaningful. This project opened my eyes to a solution: a way students can continue working their day jobs but still build relevant experience. Gig-L helps connect students with local, skill-based gigs, things like designing a flyer, filming a local event, or helping with a business launch. Instead of committing to a three-month internship, you can complete a couple-day gig, add it to your portfolio, and move on to the next opportunity. These micro-experiences allow you to stay financially afloat and grow a resume that reflects your future career.
I’ve worked in fast food, retail, and childcare. Those experiences taught me grit, but they never represented what I truly wanted to do. Now, with Gig-L, I’m working toward building something better. Something that makes it easier for students like me to gain real-world experience without compromising their financial stability. Hopefully, with the help of Sierra and everyone on the team, we can expand this idea and help solve the portfolio dilemma once and for all. Goodbye to mopping floors and wiping tables, and hello to meaningful, student-driven work that actually gets you where you want to go.
