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If life were a computer programme, Portmore Community College (PCC) alum, Millissia Johnson, would tell you she’s had to fix her fair share of bugs. 

Yet, through persistence, faith, and a few system upgrades along the way, she’s successfully rewritten her story, turning what seemed like error messages into career milestones.

Today, she’s an Import Officer at Grahford Limited, an Adjunct Lecturer at PCC, and a proud entrepreneur running her own decorating business. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems from PCC and a Master’s in Computer Science from the University of East London, proof that even the toughest code can be cracked with enough patience and purpose.

Nonetheless, Millissia’s love for technology didn’t start in a fancy lab. It began in high school, as she prepared for her Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Information Technology exams.

“That’s when my interest in programming started,” she recalls. “I became fascinated by how applications are created to solve problems and how technology continues to shape our world and make everyday life more efficient.”

Her lecturer, Desmond Grant, Head of the Computer Studies Department at PCC, noticed her strong performance and encouraged her to keep developing her skills.  “What impressed me most about Johnson’s interest in IT is her passion for learning and her willingness to help others. Her strong foundation in IT and her continued pursuit of higher education demonstrate her commitment to the field,” he says, explaining why she was a standout student for him.

“I remembered her well because of how well-organised her notes were, the keen attention she paid to every detail in class, and the diligence she showed. She is definitely one of the hardest-working and dedicated students I have worked with during my 29 years lecturing at PCC,” he states.

And she says his kind words then and now still ring true for her, even after so many decades. “His support and confidence in me motivated me to continue along this path, deepening my passion for technology and problem-solving,” she says. 

But her code wasn’t error-free.

“One of my greatest challenges in pursuing my studies was a lack of confidence,” she admits with a blush. “Although I knew I wanted to continue my education, I often doubted my ability to succeed.”

The real test came not in the classroom, but in her mindset. Growing up, she heard discouraging words that could have caused her to give up. 

“The all too familiar words that were chanted and hurled at me, such as ‘Yuh nah come out to nothin’ good’ and ‘Blind can’t lead blind’, were all fresh in my mind every step of the way,” she says.

Yet, instead of letting those words define her, she rewrote the narrative she told herself. “I needed to prove to myself that I was not those harsh words.” She confesses that, even though she struggled with confidence, she began to see those moments not as system errors but as opportunities to bolster her self-esteem.

Her new mindset became her antivirus against doubt. But not long after, another hurdle arose for Millissia—funding. “At the time, my job did not provide enough income to cover my tuition, and I was solely responsible for funding my education,” she says.

As with the computers she relied on for her assignments, her workload was heavy, her battery ran low, and, in many instances, her network proved unstable. “I didn’t always have access to a computer or reliable internet, which made completing assignments even harder,” she recalls.

But she kept going. “I chose to look beyond the obstacles because I knew what I was working toward and what I wanted to achieve,” she says. “My perseverance and faith helped me overcome each difficulty.”

She often reminded herself of a quote that kept her operating system running smoothly: “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle”—Christian D Larson. 

Knowing Your Network and Networth 

Her breakthrough moment came during an Oral Communication class, and ironically, it wasn’t about code at all. “I had prepared my presentation, but when the moment came, nervousness took over, and I couldn’t go through with it,” she recounts.

Her lecturer, Carol Fletcher, noticed the challenge and stepped in to help. “She asked me, ‘Why did you choose this programme? Why did you choose Computer Science?’” That question rebooted something in her.

Instead of sticking to the script, Millissia spoke from the heart about her journey. “As I shared my story, I realised my classmates were listening intently. I completed the presentation, and even got a decent grade for it!”

That class became her confidence boost. “Mrs Fletcher helped me find my voice and believe in myself.” Still, behind every successful system, there has to be an even stronger network. For Millissia, that network was built at PCC.

She credits Grant and Sharla Braham as her mentors and motivators. “Their guidance and belief in my potential helped me to stay focused and keep executing my goals,” she says.

Her classmates also contributed to her success, though unknowingly. “Whenever they asked me to explain lessons after class, it helped me reinforce my own understanding and build confidence in the process.”

And her family? They were her power source. Their emotional support kept her running even when she felt like shutting down. 

Consequently, through years of testing, crashing, and restarting, Millissia built resilience line by line. “When I first began, I struggled with confidence and often doubted my ability to succeed,” she reflects. “Over time, I developed greater self-belief, discipline, and resilience.”

She learned how to manage her time, troubleshoot financial challenges, and optimise her mindset. “The most rewarding part of studying at PCC was not just learning technical skills, it was discovering my true potential and realising that I could overcome anything.”

Now she teaches others to do the same: quite literally. As a lecturer at her alma mater, she inspires students to embrace their own process of debugging life’s errors.

To current and future PCC students, Millissia offers this advice: “Resilience is one of the most important qualities for success, not only in college but in life. Your journey won’t be easy, but every challenge you overcome brings you one step closer to becoming the person you’re meant to be.”

Her story is one of perseverance, self-belief, and resilience, grounded in the truth of her own experience. “Obstacles are not roadblocks,” she says. “They are opportunities – opportunities to learn, grow, and become stronger.”

And if her journey were written in code, the comments at the end would read: // Growth. Resilience. Inspiration. // System running successfully. No errors detected.