Placement: San Francisco Recreation & Park Department; Environment, Health, and  Safety Division

My Hometown: Foster City, CA

My Education: St. Edward’s University, Austin, Texas; Bachelor of Arts, Social Work; ’13

Selected Honors: Moreau Scholar; Presidential Award Recipient; Peer Health Educator     of the Year (2011, 2012); Dean’s List

Selected Activities and Community Involvement: Child Care Worker at the San Francisco Boy’s and Girl’s Home, Catholic Charities, CYO. Social Work Student Intern at    the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Austin, TX; Social Work Student Intern at  Goodwill Industries of Central Texas; New Student Orientation Coordinator at St. Edward’s University; Peer Health Educator at St. Edward’s University.

Why San Francisco is important to me: My great-father was a hardworking Irish immigrant named T.F. “Papi” O’Donnell. He followed his brother to San Francisco in 1902 to escape the desperate poverty that was widespread because of the potato famine. It was a sunny, Sunday afternoon when he met my great-grandmother in Golden Gate Park in 1903. He had his first job at the shipyards in 1905. In 1906 when the big earthquake happened, he served with the volunteer fire department to smolder the city’s blazing fire. This was the first instance of service my family offered the city that welcomed us. He went on to open his own corner store on Maynard Street and legends from older members of the family, tell us how he helped feed other families in exchange for goods. Papi instilled this service in his children, and as result my family has many members who have careers in public service. I have always been drawn to a life of service, but particularly in San Francisco. It is the city of my birth and the city which has given my family the opportunity to take advantage of the American Dream.

Something unique about me: I am a triplet.