Personal Portfolio

[balmy jungle]

Does anyone have any tips for how to begin to use adobe software? I'm completely new and would like to start to build a portfolio.

[void kelp]

Your question is super broad, because we don't know what you plan to do. Adobe software are tools to create things, you first need to know what you want to create in order to build a portfolio.

As a general rule, to learn Adobe Software efficiently, you will need to start by the tutorials within the software. They put you on the right footing, whereas a good chunk of the tutorials that you find online will take you after you've learned the essentials.
So I would start by that. You can find them in the help section (neaming depends on the software, but since we are in the Photoshop server, you'll find there under "hands-on tutorials"
You are also advise to check the help files, generally in written form, because they are very thorough and give you the real base.

Then you can move on to external tutorials - on Youtube for example - which will give you more insights on workflows. There are also books, that explore more complex needs: Like Photoshop specifically for photographers, Compositing skills, or multiple software interoperatibility like working with Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat together.

So, yes, you need to narrow it down to whatever you plan to use your portfolio for, and start learning the associated software from the ground up.
You can find a list of the most used Adobe software here:
https://www.adobe.com/uk/products/catalog.html

So you can choose according to your needs.

Also, ultimately having a successful portfolio is not solely about how to use a software. You will need to know about the "art" behind the "trade": Graphic design understanding has only very little to do with knowing your way around the programs, you will need to understand the ropes behind what makes something worthy. People did graphic design, movie editing, sound design and illustration, way before the computer was invented, so those skills are really part of the whole package. You need to be able to demonstrate that understanding in your portfolio, as this is mostly what employers and clients will look for.