Speech by Michael Brunkhorst (Dux of 2025)
Good evening parents, teachers, and Matric class of 2026.
It is a great privilege to have been invited back to stand before you this evening. Returning to Maritzburg College after completing Matric last year is not something I take lightly, and I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to you at the beginning of what is the most important and demanding year of your school careers.
Before I continue with my speech, I would just like to open with a bible verse from Colossians 3:23, which reads: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Matric is often referred to as the most significant year of a learner’s school life. And while that is certainly true, I believe that the real importance of Matric is not only in the final results, but rather in the habits, discipline, and character developed along the way – habits that will carry you through into university and beyond.
One of the most important lessons I learned during my Matric year is that success is never an accident. It doesn’t come from talent alone or from last-minute effort, but rather it comes from commitment, genuine hard work, and consistent dedication during the entire year. When you choose to take responsibility for your work and to give your best consistently, then you have already laid the foundation for success.
A useful way to think about this is through rugby. On the field, it’s very easy to tell who has trained properly and who hasn’t. In a match, the try-line doesn’t lie. Fitness, decision-making, and composure under the pressure of a match all reflect the hours spent training when no one was watching. In the same way, Matric results reveal the preparation that has taken place throughout the year. You cannot hide a lack of preparation on the field, and you certainly cannot hide it in the exam room either. Consistent effort always shows.
What makes this year especially important is that these results have real consequences. The marks you earn in Matric either open doors – or close them. They influence your opportunities for university, further studies, and many other post-school pathways. Because of that, this isn’t a year to settle for second best or to be satisfied with “good enough.” Just as no one trains in rugby with the intention of coming second, Matric demands your full effort because of the long-term impact these results will have on your future.
A personal lesson I would like to share is about mind-set. For me, Matric didn’t feel overwhelming – not because the work was easy, but because I trained myself to enjoy the challenge of learning. I began to see studying not as a punishment, but as an opportunity to stretch my thinking. Once I approached my work with that mind-set, the pressure became far more manageable.
At the same time, balance is essential. Matric is a demanding year, but it shouldn’t be an unhealthy one. Success doesn’t come from burnout. Balancing academics with sport, friendships, rest, and faith allows you to perform consistently over the entire year. Just as in rugby overtraining leads to injury, neglecting balance in Matric can lead to exhaustion. Looking after yourself enables you to give of your best where it matters.
Commitment is also a crucial part of performing well in Matric. The verse from Colossians reminds us to work with our whole hearts. In practical terms, that means to apply yourself even when the work is difficult, even when motivation is low, and even when the rewards feel far away. Genuine hard work is often quiet and unseen, but it’s always effective.
Another essential part in any learner’s success is the quality of the guidance that they receive. Maritzburg College is fortunate to have teachers who are deeply committed to their profession and to their pupils. Good teachers do far more than deliver content – they guide, challenge, and support learners throughout the year. That support must be met with responsibility. As Proverbs 20:18 reminds us, “With many advisers, plans succeed.”
To the parents here this evening, your role during this year is vital. Matric can be academically and emotionally demanding; and encouragement, understanding, and perspective at home can make a significant difference.
Lastly, to the Matric class: this year will test you, but it will also prepare you. It will require discipline, resilience and sacrifice. If you commit fully to the process, work honestly, maintain balance and make use of the support around you, the results will follow.
As you begin your final year at school, my encouragement is simple: commit yourself fully, value hard work, listen to your teachers, and where faith is part of your life, trust that God honours perseverance and integrity – just as He did with me.
I wish the Matric class every success for the year ahead. May it be a year not only of strong results, but of growth in character and purpose.
Thank you.
Click HERE for a summary of the Class of 2025 NSC results