Dr. Petronella Cameron poses with her Doctoral Certificate
“To my fellow Montserratians, everything and anything is possible with the application of five key words the belief about our capabilities, passion, dedication, discipline and perseverance,” words of Petronella Johnson-Cameron, a Montserratian who resides in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
‘Pet’ as she was and still is affectionately known before she left Montserrat, tells The Montserrat Reporter (TMR), that she completed her “Bachelors of Arts in Ethnomusicology at the University of Los Angeles California 1997, and completed my Masters of Art in Early Childhood Education in June of 2007 from California State University, Los Angeles, and just completed my Doctorate in Early Childhood Education at Walden University based in Minnessota in November 2010….and formally known now as Dr. Petronella Cameron.”
Petronella is the daughter of Irene and William Johnson from Long Ground, who relocated to England because of the volcanic activities, which began in mid-1995. She is the sister of Drago, King Kenzie, Olivette, Tanty, Nay and there are others.
Dr. Johnson-Cameron says that in addition to having two sons, “I am also a classically trained musician (piano).
She has two sons. The eldest son Ezroy Cameron is a recording producer/songwriter and also is a classically trained pianist. The youngest, Vashawn Briscoe, plays piano as well and is in the accelerated class in his school.
Pet had moved from Montserrat to British Columbia after she was married and lived there for a couple of years, then to Los Angeles, California in the early 90’s where she lived since.
Pet said she made a decision: “I decided only to complete high school, but then later on I decided to go all the way to a doctorate.”
Pet is proud to recall that because of her very humble beginnings, she was also asked by her University to present her story to inspire other Doctoral students to let them know that they can complete their doctoral studies just as she did. “I was presented as a role model in the Doctoral program…sometimes acting as a mentor for other Doctoral students,” she said.
“I am currently working on seeking a profession as a professor in Early childhood Education in one of the major Universities here in Los Angeles California,” she says.
Pet says her main hope is that, “this story could be an inspiration and give hope to students who are in doubt of their capabilities.”
She made her contact with TMR through Shirley Spycalla of Erindell Villa Guesthouse.
