Odell, Alvin Alexander, 24, New York’s Foster Care System
Odell’s contributes his experiences within the foster care system to have prepared him for working with and mentoring other foster youth. “I know how it feels when you are stuck in the situation, may it have been for better or for worse... I truly understand.”
During his college career he put himself in the best positions to be the best leader he can be; whether it be volunteering to help clean up his campus or even spending extra time in the library to help one of his fraternity brothers or teammates to study. He is a founding father of Theta Chi fraternity, though Kappa Beta chapter at Long Island University. As a founding father, he also took up the positions of both chaplains, which my duties entailed conducting individuals to bring in the new members and social chair, where he put together fraternity and sorority mixers and organized their philanthropy events.
Odell enjoys creating ceramic cups, working out, reading, and most of all he loves football. He has been playing football since he was five years old, and it has been his passion and escape from the real world ever since. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends, going out visiting places I’ve never been or even just staying in and enjoying each other’s company conversing about abstract ideas.
Odell is especially proud to have received the New York State foster a child of the year award. “Even though it was extremely hard for me to keep a positive mindset, I was able to remain strong in achieving my goals of getting excepted into the University. I believe that this award helped personify my accomplishments and the strength and resolve of my character and the willingness to persevere in the face of adversity.”
