This past summer, Sixth Former Sean Allen worked as a camp counselor at Cobbs Creek, where he also worked to restore the historic Cobbs Creek Golf Course. This process involved running a tractor through the entire course, picking up trash and debris, raising over $30,000, and more. Allen also serves as a form leader of the Service Board.
Growing up, Allen was no stranger to community service. With grandparents who had been nuns and priests before starting a family and a mother who prioritizes giving back, service was an integral part of the household. For Allen, however, service often felt more like a burden than a calling.
“As the youngest of four kids, I was always dragged along to my siblings’ practices, games, and service events,” Allen said. “I didn’t understand the point of moving boxes or showing up at drives. I just wanted to play video games and hang out with my friends.”
Allen spent years attending service projects around Philadelphia, addressing food insecurity, mental health, and homelessness. However, he remained disconnected. “My family was frustrated with me,” Allen said. “I had all these opportunities to help, but I didn’t see the value in it.”
Allen’s perspective began to shift while volunteering at the Overbrook Educational Center where he entered a gym filled with kids—no rules, no guidelines—and spent the next hour and a half playing basketball, soccer, and floor hockey with them.
“That was the first time I had fun doing service,” he said. I wasn’t there to move boxes. I was just there to play, and I felt great afterward.”
The joy of that experience stayed with him, but it wasn’t until he became involved at the Cobbs Creek Educational Center that he truly understood what service meant. He met Jayce, a young boy who struggled with ADHD and frequently caused trouble. Within minutes of meeting, Allen and Jayce were playing basketball together, laughing with joy.
“That’s when I realized the point of service wasn’t the work itself,” Allen said. “It was about showing up and connecting with them, helping them feel seen, valued, and supported. Many of these kids live extremely hard lives, and being able to help them was my wake-up call.”
Allen also appreciated his role as a mentor.
“Some of these kids had no parents, people to help shape them,” he said. “I could see how the kids were watching me; they looked at me as a role model. This is what really changed me.”
In the summer of his Fifth Form year, Allen had a big decision to make: he could play in the Water Polo Junior Olympics, a prestigious opportunity, or he could work as a full-time camp counselor at Cobbs Creek. In the end, he turned down the chance to play at the Water Polo Junior Olympics.
This decision confused many, especially given Allen’s athletic siblings, who all played sports at high levels
“Being a full-time camp counselor felt like it had much more meaning,” Allen said. “The kids at Cobbs Creek already knew me, and when I was introduced as a full-time counselor, their applause was so loud it caught me off guard.
Allen dedicated himself to working with the campers. Together, they created inside jokes, special dances, and goofy handshakes, building bonds that went far beyond the activities they did together. That summer, he met Ah’zar, an eight-year-old boy who stood out from the other kids.
“He followed me around, participating in every game and craft, becoming one of my closest buddies at the camp,” Allen said.
During his time with Ah’zar, Allen noticed something troubling. When Ah’zar got an answer wrong in math class, he would hit himself with all his might—sometimes so persistently that Allen had to hold him back. One day, after losing a dodge ball game, Ah’zar repeatedly muttered, “I have to die because I failed my team.”
“Hearing that from an eight-year-old was terrifying,” Allen said. “It made me focus all my attention on him immediately.”
Unsure of what to do, Allen took Ah’zar for a walk. He shared his own struggles—how he felt overshadowed growing up in a family of high achievers. He also threw in some jokes to lighten up the mood.
“My situation wasn’t the same as his, but I wanted him to know he wasn’t alone,” Allen said. “Ah’zar laughed at all my jokes with a big smile. I considered it a small breakthrough.”
“I found where I truly belonged—helping these kids feel seen, heard, and valued, just as they were doing the same for me.”
Josh Allen ’25
Slowly, Ah’zar started to smile again, and Allen was able to persuade him to talk with the emotional support counselor at the camp. Later, Allen made him a custom nametag covered in bright blue letters and swirls. His reaction was priceless.
“When he put it on, his whole demeanor changed,” Allen said. “He wore it proudly, smiling and engaging with other kids more than ever before.”
The next day, Ah’zar made Sean a name tag of his own. It read “Sean” with “GOAT” written underneath of it.
“I was honored. That name tag meant more to me than any sports medal I had ever received. It felt like an Olympic Gold medal,” Allen said.
This change in Ah’zar lasted. In the following days, Ah’zar was lighter, happier, and more like himself than ever before.
“I took more pride in this victory than I ever did in a water polo match,” Allen said.
Although this path that Allen has taken is much different from that of his three siblings, he doesn’t have a single regret.
“I found where I truly belonged—helping these kids feel seen, heard, and valued, just as they were doing the same for me,” Allen said. “Getting involved in community service isn’t just about helping others; it’s about making a real difference and learning about yourself in the process. I hope more people, from seniors to freshmen, give service a shot.”
