Because education isn’t about raising perfect children. It’s about shaping whole human beings.
Back of the Head, Front of the Heart
April 17, 2025.
It’s 9:53 p.m., and I’m out again for another SoulTake walk.
(Side note: “SoulTake” is a term I’ve coined for these daily reflections—where I pause, look back, and collect meaning from the day. It’s not just a walk. It’s a reset for the soul.)
For the third night in a row, I’m nursing this strange pain—sharp and rhythmic, always at the back left side of my head. It’s getting slightly better today. The frequency has dropped. But it’s still there.
Odd. But manageable.
And even with the pain, it’s been a full day. Not easy. But full. The kind of day that stretches you—and shapes you.
Productive Stress: The Coffee Morning
This morning kicked off with a parent Coffee Morning at school—not a town hall, not a marketing show. Something far riskier.
It was a live, open dialogue.
Parents came not just to listen, but to speak. Some came to share concerns. A few came to shoot arrows. And we knew it. Still—we showed up. Not as distant management, but as the CEO’s office. We came in as listeners, not lecturers. Not to control the room, but to create one.
Because if we want to raise wise children, we must first be willing to model wisdom—and that begins with listening.
(And a shoutout to Ryan, who moderated the session with calm and rising wisdom. He’s come a long way—and it shows.)
The Question That Hit the Heart
One parent asked:
“How are we benchmarking student progress? How do we know they’re doing well?”
It’s a fair question. One I answered directly.
Yes, we measure. We must. What isn’t measured isn’t improved.
But I also said this:
We don’t raise children just for exams.
We raise them for life.
Our students will sit for the Cambridge IGCSE. But in the meantime, what matters most is that they grow against their own progress—not just against others.
I held back from saying something that sat deep in my chest:
Are we raising smart idiots—high achievers with no wisdom?
Or are we nurturing what I call “dumb geniuses”—imperfect but grounded in values, empathy, and resilience?
We didn’t go there yet. But we will. The conversation has begun.
From Growth to Impact to Future
Samuel, our COO, followed with clarity. He framed our educational philosophy in three powerful phases:
- Growth-Ready – Students who are self-directed and love learning.
- Impact-Ready – Students who take what they’ve learned and begin lifting others.
- Future-Ready – Students equipped for real-world complexity—not just academically, but emotionally and ethically.
This is not just theory. It’s our roadmap.
Later, when the parent clarified her question was actually about Olympiads and competitive benchmarking—we smiled. That’s exactly where we’re headed: giving our students a chance to stretch, shine, and serve.
Restoration Over Removal
Then came a deeper question:
“How does the school handle repeated behavioral issues?”
Miss Anne, our leader on the ground, stepped in with a truth that cut through the noise:
“We don’t aim to punish. We aim to restore.”
She didn’t sound like an authority figure. She sounded like an educator. A shepherd.
And it hit me—we need more of that. Authority wrapped in compassion.
Correction rooted in care.
From my side, I added a father’s perspective.
When my kids talk about the same “naughty students” every day, I don’t shut the conversation down. I lean in. Because the truth is:
They won’t grow up in a world full of angels.
They’ll live and work among flawed humans—just like us.
So we might as well start preparing them now.
Pocket Money & Personal Power
Another parent asked about access cards in the cafeteria. Should the school restrict what students buy?
My take?
We could control it. But we’d miss the point.
This is a moment to teach financial literacy, not impose adult control.
I speak to my son about what he buys—drinks vs meals, wants vs needs, cravings vs value.
Real education includes knowing the worth of things—not just their price.
The Drawing That Changed Everything
I shared a story from my own parenting journey.
Once, on a family trip to Singapore, my son sat at the back of the MPV. I raised my voice so he could hear me—not out of anger, just distance.
But he thought I was shouting. He shut down.
So I tried something different:
“Can you draw how you feel on your tablet?”
He did.
A boy’s angry face.
And above it—scribbles.
“What are those?” I asked.
He said, “These are bad words in my head.”
But he didn’t speak them out loud.
He knew they were wrong.
And that moment taught me more than most parenting books ever could.
Children are deeply aware.
They just don’t always have the tools to process what they feel.
That’s our job—to help them name it, frame it, and grow through it.
AI, Ethics & Courage
Before we ended, I reminded the parents of a chilling reality.
We’re raising children in an age where AI can be used to destroy reputations, manipulate images, and blur morality.
This isn’t theory. It’s already happening—in schools not far from us.
We can’t prevent every threat. But we can prepare hearts.
So I tell my kids:
Whatever happens, come to Daddy. I’ll walk through it with you.
You are not alone.
That’s the kind of culture we’re building at school, too—not one of fear, but one of restoration and trust.
Afternoon Legacy, Evening Reflection
After the dialogue session, we visited my uncle’s house. We talked about how to preserve his drawings—his legacy. It reminded me that even our creative work deserves to live beyond us.
Then we joined IIB’s Raya open house and reconnected with some key stakeholders.
Back to the office. Cleared some work. Gym.
Then the most meaningful part: my children.
We did schoolwork together. Talked about their month. Goals. Wins. Struggles.
Monthly reflections. SoulTake moments—together.
Before the day ended, I also had a brief, precious chat with my parents. Just a few minutes. But it meant the world.
The Reverse That Redefines It All
The goal of education is not perfection. It’s participation in life—fully, honestly, and courageously.
We will not raise perfect children.
But we can raise whole ones.
Not shielded from mistakes—but equipped to learn from them.
Not pushed to compete—but guided to connect.
Not drilled to perform—but encouraged to become.
And that starts with us—parents, educators, leaders—who are willing to model wholeness over winning.
A SoulTake with My Kids
That night, I returned to what matters most—my children.
We worked through school assignments. But more than that, we did our own monthly reflections.
We asked:
- What mattered most this month?
- What were we proud of?
- What do we want to focus on next?
This is education.
Not perfection. But presence.
Before sleep, I had a rare moment to speak to my own parents too. Just a few minutes. But it grounded me.
So What Is Education, Really?
The goal isn’t perfection.
It’s participation in life—fully, honestly, courageously.
We’re not trying to raise perfect children.
We’re shaping whole human beings.
Not shielded from mistakes—but equipped to grow from them.
Not pushed to outperform—but guided to outgrow themselves.
Not driven by fear—but drawn by purpose.
And that starts with us—parents, educators, leaders—who are willing to live with wholeness, not just results.
Your Turn
What’s your version of a SoulTake?
What would your child draw if you asked, “Show me how you feel”?
Don’t wait for the perfect moment.
Make room for the real one.
That’s where transformation begins.
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