Suzanne Frederickson had no idea that she’d be chased by a stampede of elephants when she went on a game drive in South Africa, but as someone who goes with the flow, it’s no surprise she adapted, reacted and prevailed as she has in so many other avenues of her life.  

While on the game drive, which is a drive to view game animals and take photos, her group took a “bush break,” to answer nature’s calls when suddenly, she heard thundering noises and the sounds of trees cracking.  

“I looked over at our guide and asked, ‘Should we be scared?’ He looked up and saw a pack of elephants chasing another pack of elephants and told us, ‘Get in the car.’”

Frederickson and her group got back in the Jeep, only to find that both herds stood ground on either side of the car.

Within a few moments, “The mother started chasing us in the Jeep and we were (sitting) facing the wrong way, watching this elephant chasing us, Jurassic Park-style!”  

After Frederickson and her group escaped the elephant, she couldn’t help but look over at her friend, adrenaline pumping, and exclaimed, “That was so cool!”

It’s experiences like these that speak to Frederickson’s adventurous spirit. At 63, she has already traveled to many faraway lands, connected with her French and Swedish roots and learned much from her trips, but not without some mishaps along the way.

She recalls losing her luggage for five days in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and having to trek around the city in only sandals.  On another trip snorkeling in Bora Bora, “A storm blew in and we had a heck of time getting back in.” she said. Despite the setbacks she’s encountered, Frederickson’s travel ambitions are ever-growing. Cuba, Greece, Egypt, and the Great Wall of China are all on her bucket list.  

 Though she’s experienced many exciting adventures abroad, including ziplining in Costa Rica, fishing for Piranha in the Amazon, whitewater rafting down the Zambizi River in Botswana and climbing Machu Picchu just last year with Rio Hondo colleagues, Frederickson’s life hasn’t always gone according to plan.  

For 14 years, she worked at a grocery store until she was laid off one day.  A student at Rio Hondo College since 1970, Frederickson had been in and out of school throughout her life, but unlike many, she didn’t return to school to get a better job.  

“Actually, I went back to school to finally finish something in my life. I had gotten laid off from my job, so I had free time. It was just a personal goal to finish.” she said.  
After Frederickson finished her coursework, she went on the transfer to Cal State University, Long Beach. “I got my degree in English with the intent to teach English, but I got waylaid in computers, because computers were really easy for me.  That’s how I got here.”
Frederickson started working in the Rio Hondo English Department in the computer labs. “I used to work in the Writing Workshop and then I got pulled over to another area, doing computer work, as well.  It was in the beginning stages of Internet use on campus with a small group of people piggybacking off USC and that was when you used to put everything on floppy disks.” she recalled.

After working three years in the district lab and five years in the Writing Lab, Frederickson applied for a job at Disabled Students Programs and Services. “Most people who work in this department work here because it was a calling for them. When I applied for the job, it’s because the job stage was seven stages higher than where I was before,” she said.
Regardless of her initial reasons for applying, it turned out to be a great career move for Frederickson, as she thoroughly enjoys her work.

“I love what I do. When I worked at the grocery store, I didn’t like it so much. It’s a hard job, (but) the wages were good. I didn’t think about getting a better job (by going to school).  I just thought, I’m going to keep moving up until I get a job I like. When you go to work, it should be something you love to do, because otherwise, why would you go to work?” she said.

Frederickson currently converts already-published books to books in braille. She has read almost every book on campus and is currently reading a geology text on campus for a student.
“It’s very interesting. I just went to training a few months ago. “What I do is put (the book) in text, then I put it in a computer and it sends it to an embosser, then after it’s done, I have to read it to make sure it makes sense.” she said. However, unlike most who read braille using their fingers, Frederickson has unconventionally learned how to read braille visually to ensure that the books are accessible for braille-readers and students.

Compassionate by nature, Frederickson has always been an advocate, since childhood.

“I used to stick up for the kids who couldn’t stick up for themselves in school, and I don’t think I’ve ever thought of any disability as a hindrance, but just as something that requires a different way of doing things.”  

Thus, Frederickson finds working with disabled students especially rewarding because, “based on their disability, there is sometimes more for them to do in order to be successful. I love seeing the students who have worked hard become successful and graduate or transfer. I feel like I contributed a little to their life to help them.”

Although she’d returned to school simply to finish something that she’d been working on so long, her decision ultimately changed the course of her life. Frederickson connected the dots and considers returning to school her biggest accomplishment; “I’m glad I went back to school because it changed my life and the direction I was going in.”

She highly recommends that students see a counselor to help them map out a plan.

“I had a 124 units (before transferring) to CSU and I could only take 70 (with me) over there, so I was thinking, ‘Why did I take all these other classes?’

“I think it happens to a lot of people. You have a goal, (and you) go for your goal, but if your life takes a different direction, just go with it. Sometimes what you want to do may not be right for you, you never know.  Accept whatever happens, day to day, and if you find yourself going in a different direction, follow it.”

Frederickson practices her own advice and has consequently become involved in projects she hadn’t expected.

Outside of her job, Frederickson contributes a great deal of her time to the theater. She’d always enjoyed and been involved with theater and took some theater courses when she first started studying at RHC. “It always fascinated me. I liked films, theater, acting, writing, all of that.” she said.

However, this turned out to be yet another time her course of action changed. Though she first wanted to act, she later changed her mind, “After taking acting classes, I realized how much work it was and I give them props because it’s very hard.” she said.  

Nonetheless, she still performed in many productions, a few of which were directed by Rio Hondo’s Journalism professor, John Francis.  

Surprisingly, these productions were not her first encounter with Francis. In fact, Francis was also Frederickson’s English teacher in high school. They ran into one another when she was a student at RHC and discovered their shared passion for theater and film.

The two of them later worked at the Sierra Madre Playhouse for some time. At one point, Frederickson agreed to a play a role in “Nuncrackers,” a play directed by Francis.

“John was directing and I was stage managing. He needed one more person to play the nun stage manager, who gets hurt and leaves after the first five minutes of the play, so I agreed to play the part… I still don’t know how he gets me to do these things.” Frederickson laughs.  

However brief her appearance in the play, she was definitely pushed out of her comfort zone, “I had to play a nun in a tutu and sing and dance – of which I do neither – so that was my greatest nightmare, especially ‘cause I went to Catholic school.”  

Frederickson has also performed in many other productions, including “Pirates of Penzance” and Eugène Ionesco’s “Jack Or The Submission” in West Hollywood. As a student, she wrote a play in 1991 called, “Checkmate,” which was likewise performed at RHC.  

Frederickson’s theater experience didn’t end there, as she has directed various plays over the years, including “Arsenic and Old Lace,” and continues to expand her horizons, learning about set design and sound. “I kinda got thrown into set design when the guy that was doing it quit.  I’ve been doing the set designing.  Every other year, I’ll direct. It’s very time-consuming and most of the time, I’m doing tech-stuff, sound, lights. People won’t let me out of the sound.” she said.

Traditionally a boys’ game, Frederickson broke yet another conventionality when she started to work the soundboards in the theater.  

Despite the difficulties of coordinating microphones, pitch and harmonies for the actors, especially in musicals, Frederickson’s drive is undeniable in the different aspects of theater.

“I would really love to learn aspects about lighting, because I run the (sound) board, but I would like to design lighting, because sometimes I know what I want when directing, but I’d like to know what they do with the lighting.” she said.    

Frederickson is currently directing “The Game’s Afoot,” a comedy and murder mystery for which she is also designing the set.  

Just as Frederickson’s bold spirit has put her in unexpected situations traveling abroad, her career has likewise taken twists and turns, but she’s ultimately always come out on top.  Rather than trying to stick to her original itinerary for life, she feels that sometimes it’s best to follow the path that presents itself, even though it may not have been in the original plan.
“Learn as much as you can, in or out of school. Don’t let (obstacles) get you down. Life itself is an adventure. Whatever you do, be in the moment.” she said.

“The Game’s Afoot” will open June 3 and show through June 18 at the Whittier Community Theater.  Check whittercommunitytheater.org for tickets and more information.