Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Dormus.
Matthew, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Having survived multiple car accidents, a severe health crisis, and near-death experiences like being very close to a drive-by murder, I have an increased gratitude for every breath I take now. Along with gratitude comes an intentional decision to make sure my life counts, and risk-taking plays a monumental role in that effort.
Currently, I am a nineteen-year-old sophomore ministerial theology major at Oakwood University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Huntsville, Alabama. I was recently chosen to campaign for Oakwood University Royalty for the title of “Mr. Oakwood University” against one other student.
As a newcomer to the pageant scene, this is a considerable risk for me to undertake. Raising thousands of dollars, completing a leadership development program for candidates, attending pageant practices, developing my campaign platform, and more is a lot to invest on the front end.
But, I am willing to see what green grass could lie on the other side.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My life journey has not been smooth, but people who I am grateful for have walked with me along the way.
First and foremost, my relationship with Jesus Christ is pivotal to every step I take along life’s arduous journey. I give all of the credit and glory to God for my successes.
I would also like to give my loving parents, Lesly and Ruth Dormus, their flowers while they are still living. They have listened to me talk for hundreds of hours about my dreams, worked alongside me in accomplishing my goals, consoled me during failures, and been cheerleaders during victories. I love you both.
To my brother, Freddy Dormus, and my extended family, thank you for supporting and believing in me through the bright mountaintop days and the treks through the darkest valleys.
I would be remiss if I did not give a huge virtual hug to my mentors. Though too many to name, they have shared wise counsel, provided financial support, and helped me to network effectively.
To my girlfriend and closest friends, thank you for riding with me. The smiles, laughs, and memories we have shared are held dear to my heart.
Throughout all of my discouragements, I have leaned on these people, and I am a better man for it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
An African proverb that I live by goes like this: “If you want to go fast, then go alone. If you want to go far, then go together.” Bringing creative visions to life has been a team effort for me.
Founding a community service organization called Operation Radiate (OPR) as a freshman in high school helped to teach me the lessons that I needed to learn to successfully co-found a newscast called Good Morning OU (GMOU) as a freshman in college. After my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer during my seventh-grade year, my grandmother moved out of our home and into a nursing home. The strain of caring for her aging parent proved to be too great for my mother while she was battling for her life.
After observing the loneliness and sadness that my grandmother experienced in various nursing homes, I promised myself that I would do something about that for her and other senior citizens. OPR started with five of my high school friends and me, no budget, and a mission to alleviate elderly loneliness.
The mission was at first accomplished by throwing surprise parties for senior citizens in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. During my senior year, OPR had three part-time, paid student employees, fifty-plus student volunteers, a $3000+ operating fund, a fundraiser that raised $1200+ for elderly typhoon victims in the Philippines, and several visits and gifts were provided to senior citizens at a local low-income housing authority. Within three years, OPR became one of the three largest student organizations at Georgia-Cumberland Academy, my alma mater.
I give a much-deserved shoutout to many who ensured that the student-led organization made a difference from 2019-2023. Building off of the lessons learned while leading OPR, I decided to co-found the GMOU newscast to improve communication on Oakwood University’s campus with Lisbeth Peguero Pena, a current student at Oakwood. As the highly anticipated newscast grows, I am excited to see our crew’s collective creativity come to life on screen. Feel free to learn more at www.gmoushow.com.
Starting these two initiatives among others past and present has been the thrill of a lifetime and very challenging. I can say like Michael Jordan though, “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory was going on a three-week mission trip to Guatemala, Central America. Life-changing is not even a potent enough word to describe the phenomenal experience I had. In a country plagued by violence, I discovered people with beautiful smiles, kind hospitality, and loving natures.
Our mission group provided construction work and medical aid, but we received more blessings from the people we came to serve than we could give. Aside from being served tortillas at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I have no regrets.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/matthewdormus/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdormus/
- Other: www.matthewdormus.com
