I managed to figure this out on my own. The issue was with the markup I used. I mistakenly added a
tag inside an li element. However, I'm still unsure why this caused a problem. Here is the codepen link for reference:
<div class="paintallblack">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-1 verticalnav">
<div class="nav nav-pills nav-stacked">
<a class="btn" href="#mypic">
A<br>b<br>o<br>u<br>t</a>
<a class="btn" href="#">
P<br>o<br>r<br>t<br>f<br>o<br>l<br>i<br>o</a>
<a class="btn" href="#"> C<br>o<br>n<br>t<br>a<br>c<br>t</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="col-md-5 col-md-offset-1 leftcontent">
<img id="mypic" src="https://scontent-sit4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15940460_161286387692018_3963016562080030457_n.jpg?oh=6e79da88fff3df387121a5ac66a7de32&oe=59212A06" alt="mystupidface">
</div>
<div class="col-md-5 rightcontent">
<p>In my quest to become proficient in web development and launch my online magazine, I am facing numerous challenges. Who am I? What do I do? In my free time, I enjoy running, writing stories, poems, book reviews, composing music, and drawing. Currently, my focus is on maintaining my health, learning to code, and delving into science-fiction whenever possible.</p>
</div>
</div>
http://codepen.io/Hertzsprung/pen/JEKxwN.