To my dear Rehan School family — our incredible staff and students,
Today I learned a word that held up a mirror to me: “patronizing.”
It means speaking in a way that seems helpful or kind, but actually makes the other person feel smaller, less capable, or disrespected — even if that wasn’t the intention.
And as I reflected… I realized something.
In my journey of trying to lead, build, teach, and help, I may have unknowingly spoken or behaved in ways that made some of you feel this way.
I may have talked “at” you when I should have listened to you.
I may have given instructions when what you needed was encouragement.
And even though I meant well, I now understand: impact matters more than intention.
So today, I want to say this to you — with full honesty and love:
I am truly sorry.
Here are some examples that came to my heart:
I may have said:
“Why are you doing it like this? Just do what I said!”
What I wish I’d said:
“Tell me how you were thinking about it — maybe we can learn something new together.”
I may have said:
“This is very basic. You should know this by now.”
What I wish I’d said:
“Some things take time to click. I struggled with this once too — let’s try it again together.”
I may have said to a student:
“You’re too slow — others are way ahead of you.”
What I should have said:
“Every brain blooms at its own pace — keep going, I believe in you.”
I may have said:
“Let me handle this — you’ll just make a mistake.”
What I wish I’d said:
“Want me to guide you while you try it? Mistakes are part of learning.”
I may have interrupted a teacher and said:
“No, no — that’s not the way to teach it.”
What I wish I’d said:
“That’s an interesting approach — can you explain how it’s helping the students learn?”
To every teacher, student, and staff member:
You are talented. You are smart. You bring value. You are not “less than” because you’re learning — we’re all learning. Even me. Especially me.
I used ChatGPT to help write this letter — not because it’s fake, but because I wanted to find the right words to express my heart. ChatGPT is like emotional spellcheck — but the feelings, the awareness, and the growth… are all mine.
Thank you for being patient with me.
Thank you for staying with me.
And thank you for being part of something much bigger than a school.
We are not just building minds here — we are building hearts.
And I promise to keep doing my part better, with more humility, more listening, and more love.
With deep respect and gratitude,
Rehan Allahwala
Today I learned a word that held up a mirror to me: “patronizing.”
It means speaking in a way that seems helpful or kind, but actually makes the other person feel smaller, less capable, or disrespected — even if that wasn’t the intention.
And as I reflected… I realized something.
In my journey of trying to lead, build, teach, and help, I may have unknowingly spoken or behaved in ways that made some of you feel this way.
I may have talked “at” you when I should have listened to you.
I may have given instructions when what you needed was encouragement.
And even though I meant well, I now understand: impact matters more than intention.
So today, I want to say this to you — with full honesty and love:
I am truly sorry.
Here are some examples that came to my heart:
I may have said:
“Why are you doing it like this? Just do what I said!”
What I wish I’d said:
“Tell me how you were thinking about it — maybe we can learn something new together.”
I may have said:
“This is very basic. You should know this by now.”
What I wish I’d said:
“Some things take time to click. I struggled with this once too — let’s try it again together.”
I may have said to a student:
“You’re too slow — others are way ahead of you.”
What I should have said:
“Every brain blooms at its own pace — keep going, I believe in you.”
I may have said:
“Let me handle this — you’ll just make a mistake.”
What I wish I’d said:
“Want me to guide you while you try it? Mistakes are part of learning.”
I may have interrupted a teacher and said:
“No, no — that’s not the way to teach it.”
What I wish I’d said:
“That’s an interesting approach — can you explain how it’s helping the students learn?”
To every teacher, student, and staff member:
You are talented. You are smart. You bring value. You are not “less than” because you’re learning — we’re all learning. Even me. Especially me.
I used ChatGPT to help write this letter — not because it’s fake, but because I wanted to find the right words to express my heart. ChatGPT is like emotional spellcheck — but the feelings, the awareness, and the growth… are all mine.
Thank you for being patient with me.
Thank you for staying with me.
And thank you for being part of something much bigger than a school.
We are not just building minds here — we are building hearts.
And I promise to keep doing my part better, with more humility, more listening, and more love.
With deep respect and gratitude,
Rehan Allahwala
To my dear Rehan School family — our incredible staff and students,
Today I learned a word that held up a mirror to me: “patronizing.”
It means speaking in a way that seems helpful or kind, but actually makes the other person feel smaller, less capable, or disrespected — even if that wasn’t the intention.
And as I reflected… I realized something.
In my journey of trying to lead, build, teach, and help, I may have unknowingly spoken or behaved in ways that made some of you feel this way.
I may have talked “at” you when I should have listened to you.
I may have given instructions when what you needed was encouragement.
And even though I meant well, I now understand: impact matters more than intention.
So today, I want to say this to you — with full honesty and love:
I am truly sorry.
Here are some examples that came to my heart:
🗣️ I may have said:
“Why are you doing it like this? Just do what I said!”
💬 What I wish I’d said:
“Tell me how you were thinking about it — maybe we can learn something new together.”
🗣️ I may have said:
“This is very basic. You should know this by now.”
💬 What I wish I’d said:
“Some things take time to click. I struggled with this once too — let’s try it again together.”
🗣️ I may have said to a student:
“You’re too slow — others are way ahead of you.”
💬 What I should have said:
“Every brain blooms at its own pace — keep going, I believe in you.”
🗣️ I may have said:
“Let me handle this — you’ll just make a mistake.”
💬 What I wish I’d said:
“Want me to guide you while you try it? Mistakes are part of learning.”
🗣️ I may have interrupted a teacher and said:
“No, no — that’s not the way to teach it.”
💬 What I wish I’d said:
“That’s an interesting approach — can you explain how it’s helping the students learn?”
To every teacher, student, and staff member:
You are talented. You are smart. You bring value. You are not “less than” because you’re learning — we’re all learning. Even me. Especially me.
I used ChatGPT to help write this letter — not because it’s fake, but because I wanted to find the right words to express my heart. ChatGPT is like emotional spellcheck — but the feelings, the awareness, and the growth… are all mine.
Thank you for being patient with me.
Thank you for staying with me.
And thank you for being part of something much bigger than a school.
We are not just building minds here — we are building hearts.
And I promise to keep doing my part better, with more humility, more listening, and more love.
With deep respect and gratitude,
Rehan Allahwala
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