Today, I want to speak to you about something that lies at the heart of your success—both here at College and in the years that follow beyond our gates: self-discipline.
Self-discipline is not a word that always excites us. It doesn’t sound glamorous; it doesn’t carry the thrill of competition or the pride of achievement. Yet, it is the very foundation upon which those achievements are built. Without it, talent is wasted, potential is never realised, and dreams remain just that—dreams.
At College, you are given incredible opportunities: to learn, to compete, to grow, and to lead. But opportunities alone are not enough. What matters is how you respond to them. Self-discipline is choosing to study when it would be easier to scroll on your phone. It is waking up early to train when nobody is watching. It is resisting the urge to take shortcuts when you know, deep down, that effort and integrity are what count.
Gentlemen, self-discipline is doing what needs to be done—especially when you don’t feel like doing it.
The great South African golfer Gary Player once said: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” That is self-discipline in action. Success is never an accident. It is the result of hundreds of small, deliberate decisions, repeated consistently.
Think for a moment about Trevor Noah. He grew up in very difficult circumstances in Johannesburg, often with very little. Yet he disciplined himself to read, to learn languages, to study people, and to sharpen his craft as a comedian. That discipline—the daily choice to improve—took him from small comedy clubs in South Africa to hosting The Daily Show in New York, one of the biggest stages in the world. His story reminds us that self-discipline is not only for the sports field; it is just as vital in academics, in creativity, and in leadership.
And here is the challenge: no one else can build self-discipline for you. Your parents can encourage you, your teachers can push you, your coaches can demand from you—but ultimately, it rests on you. Every boy at College has within him the ability to rise above excuses, to set his own standards, and to hold himself accountable.
As you move through this week, I want each of you to consider this: What area of my life needs greater discipline? It could be your studies. It could be your fitness. It could be how you manage your time or the way you treat others. Be honest with yourself, and then take one deliberate step towards improvement.
Gentlemen, discipline is not a punishment—it is a gift you give yourself. It is the key to freedom, because when you master yourself, you are prepared to master the challenges of life.
So let us be a school marked not only by talent and spirit, but by self-disciplined young men. For it is self-discipline that turns potential into achievement, and boys into men of character.
Pro Aris et Focis
Mr Alan Redfern
Headmaster: Maritzburg College