At Florida A&M University, resilience is more than just a trait—it’s a way of life. For mechanical engineering major Derrick Mathis, resilience became the foundation of his college journey. Outside the classroom, he’s actively involved in Live Love Strike, but his deepest passion lies in community service.
In all honesty, Derrick felt as if FAMU chose him. Before his father’s passing due to taking his own life, he dreamed of attending an engineering school, but after losing him, Derrick’s grades slipped, and his dream seemed out of reach. Despite completing many college applications, no schools responded. “My mother advised me to look into FAMU. I applied extremely late but was still blessed with acceptance,” Derrick explained. That blessing would later serve as the spark for his purpose.
His freshman year, like many students, came with challenges. “Honestly the hardest thing my freshman year was adjusting to my own freedom. As a freshman it’s very easy to get caught up in the ‘I’m grown’ phase.” With his mother’s steady guidance, he managed to stay grounded, determined to not only succeed for himself but also set a strong example for his younger siblings.
Still, the weight of grief lingered. “My father’s passing really made me look at things for what it is. Before I was very naïve and thought the world revolved around me. It showed me that I need to make life worthwhile.” Out of that realization came the desire to channel pain into purpose.
On October 17th, Derrick decided to start something bigger than himself. “The thing that inspired me to start the drive was a feeling of emptiness and sadness on that day, so I wanted to give it a new purpose to my heart,” he said. He created Three Strikes for Tally, an initiative that collects socks, underwear, and T-shirts for the homeless.
The name wasn’t random. “I tried different ideas for naming the drive, but the one that stuck was Three Strikes for Tally. The name represents the three donations I aim to make on the 17th of October, November, and December, and it also ties to the three main items we collect—socks, underwear, and T-shirts. What started as a personal idea has grown into a way to give back and bring the community together.”
At FAMU, one of the most well-known chants is “2 claps and a strike,” but Derrick reimagined it into his own mission—three strikes for change. His goal is simple but powerful: to provide at least 25 homeless people with a fresh set of undergarments.
The journey, however, wasn’t always smooth. “At first I felt really down about falling short on the donations. I almost didn’t want to do it again, but I use it as fuel to show that I just need to work harder and increase my outreach.” Instead of quitting, he pushed forward, proving that setbacks don’t have to define success.
Organizing the drive also gave Derrick a new perspective on service. “Honestly, I want the less fortunate to have basic necessities or at least give them a fresh feeling,” he said. “It makes me feel good knowing I helped who I could. Hopefully I can organize more events and drives.”
What began as one student’s healing has grown into a vision for the future. Derrick plans for Three Strikes for Tally to last at least five years or longer, and he is actively seeking partners to help expand its reach. “In the future, I plan to grow it by expanding to other cities I have access to. (ex. ATL, MIA, etc.),” he shared.
Through the process, Derrick also learned a deeper lesson about leadership. “Through this experience I learned that even the strongest leaders feel weak sometimes, but as a leader you don’t have to go through it alone.”
From grief to growth, Derrick Mathis has proven that even in life’s hardest moments, there is an opportunity to rise, rebuild, and serve. His story is more than a reflection of FAMU’s resilience—it’s a blueprint for transforming pain into purpose and creating impact that lasts.
