​From being told that he should aspire to become an astronaut as he was “good for nothing on earth" to graduating this week from Stellenbosch University (SU) with a PhD in occupational therapy, Jerome Peter Boboo Fredericks has exceeded expectations.

For his doctoral thesis, the Paarl resident and SU lecturer developed strategies to enhance the accessibility of minibus taxi services for wheelchair users in his hometown. The needs of his community lie close to his heart, as he knows all too well the power of a helping hand. He says he remembers “like yesterday" the moment his life changed as a child when, while begging on a street corner, he was invited to join a volleyball practice.

That game changed his life's trajectory, he reflects, referring to the saying: “A child in sport is a child out of court." He says playing volleyball in his free hours kept him out of trouble and improved his self-esteem. “I used my time more productively and I developed so many life and social skills." Volleyball provided “meaning and purpose in life", he adds. It helped him develop the mindset that “all things are possible if you just believe and work hard towards your dream".

Fredericks' academic path had a precarious start when his mother, hoping to protect him from disappointment, told her young son to lower his expectations for his life.  After hearing that he should be “far away in space with the planets" because there was no future for him on earth, a young Fredericks told his Grade 3 classmates he wanted to be an astronaut when he grew up. That same year, he was cautioned by his teacher that unless he pulled up his socks, he would fail the year. Fredericks recalls that he took the threat literally and spent the next few days with his socks secured by elastic bands over his knees. And he still failed the grade.

It was then, after seeing her son's disappointment at having to repeat Grade 3, that his mother reconsidered on her earlier advice. “Let nothing or nobody tell you that you cannot become the person you want to be," she said. That was the day Fredericks decided to become a professor, he admits. “And why did I dream of becoming a professor," he asks? “It was to have my own office, sitting at my own desk, travelling the world, making an impact on people's lives, make my mom proud and lastly – to have a whole chicken for myself, Yes, a whole chicken for myself." With volleyball as the conduit to a better life with more opportunities, Fredericks went on to become head boy and top student at the Paulus Joubert High School in Paarl. He was also selected to play for the under 19 SA Volleyball team.

Fredericks is now able to inspire and mentor young people in his own community where he is involved with rugby, soccer and athletics clubs in the area. It enables him to instil the same values he learned as a youngster playing volleyball. “Participating in sport makes you a better person and creates a sense of safety within a team. It provides a sense of belonging." Volleyball was the gateway for Fredericks to meet new people, travel and see life from a new perspective. He hopes to give children from under-resourced communities access to the same opportunities he enjoyed through sport. Many of the children he works with come from broken families where mentors are few. His message to these children is: “If I can achieve my dreams, you can too."

Fredericks has been a lecturer at SU's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences for the past 17 years, and he teaches at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. Much of his work focuses on the role of occupational therapy in physical disabilities. Fredericks is also a life coach, researcher, a keynote speaker and an “undercover comedian". When asked how he managed to complete a thesis while wearing so many hats, he says, “piece by piece, like one would eat an elephant". Attributing his success to a balanced lifestyle, as well as “two of the best PhD supervisors and a wonderful academic mentor", Fredericks also emphasises the importance of working consistently and proactively. When he is not occupied with research or lecturing, he relaxes by cooking, watching movies or listening to inspirational music.

Fredericks hopes to publish more widely and collaborate nationally and internationally with peers in his field. He has already presented some of his research results at conferences in Europe and will also present at the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) Congress in Thailand next year.

Fredericks attributes his achievements to his mother's tough love and honest advice. “One of the most valuable lessons she taught me was that life is in the might of the tongue and that you can speak life into any situation. In other words, you can create your own reality."

He adds: “My inspiration was a mother who had nothing but was able to raise me into a doctor by only trusting in the Lord and her faith." Although Fredericks' mother is no longer alive to celebrate her son's graduation, he will be able to share it with his wife, Mandy and his kids Joshua, Meah and Meekah.  “I am very humbled and very grateful for the grace of God upon my life."

Photo: Stefan Els

​