How I Accidentally Won a Portfolio Contest
I honestly didn’t expect to win anything. It all started as just another tech workshop — this one organized by TensorClub, a student tech club from our college. There wasn’t any big fuss about it being a competition. They simply said, “We’ll teach you how to build your portfolio using some cool AI tools… and afterward, we’ll pick the best ones for a small contest.” That was it.
Being someone who loves exploring the latest AI tools, I was naturally curious, so I signed up. We learned to use platforms like Lovable and Bolt AI, and how to plug in 11 Labs for voice features. It was genuinely fun and insightful.
But midway through the workshop, something clicked.
Everyone was building their portfolio the same way — following the same instructions, using the same prompts, placing content in the same layout. I kept wondering: If we’re all making the same thing, how will they pick a winner? That question changed everything.
Instead of sticking to the default flow, I started experimenting. I browsed Figma for some modern portfolio designs, found one that inspired me, and asked an AI to describe its layout and style. Using that as a guide, I crafted a layout that felt more “me.”
While many others filled their sites with generic AI-generated text, I did something different. I opened my old documents, pulled out content I had genuinely written before, and asked AI to help polish and structure it in a more personal tone. Real words. Real stories.
I even uploaded my own photo, wrote a short bio from scratch, and made sure every section reflected who I actually was — not just a template filler.
And guess what? That little detour — that decision to do it differently — worked.
I ended up winning first prize! Second went to my friend Tanu. I still smile thinking about how unexpected that was.
What did I learn? When you think for yourself, take initiative, and put something real out there, people notice. Authenticity matters. And sometimes, that’s all it takes to stand out.
– Akash
