Friday, 19 September 2025
Good morning, we are representatives of 6L. As the next group of candidates for the HKDSE, we understand that our ultimate goal is to strive for improvement well before the last minute. However, the overwhelming pressure can sometimes lead us to feelings of depression. We may find ourselves worrying and blaming our laziness, leaving no space for relaxation and self-care.
Today, we want to share with you the story of a former NBA player, Kobe Bryant, who unfortunately passed away a few years ago. Known for his mentality, Kobe’s legacy and his stories of self-decipline remain till this day.
Kobe Bryant was already an exceptional basketball player in high school, following intense training schedules. He would wake up at about 3 to 4 a.m. for early training, while repeating multiple sessions of two to three hours each throughout the day. This habit was passed on when he got into the NBA, which was already a great milestone for most athletes, reflecting his eagerness to improve even after excellent achievements.
As a basketball player, Kobe pursued perfection in his game by hard work. He practiced a single move for hundreds and thousands of times per training. With a nickname of the Black Mamba, his work ethic is known for the Mamba mentality, often described as a form of disciplinary mindset among professional athletes. Apparently, Kobe’s hard work was praised by his former teammates and opponents, some even described it as insanity.
NBA hall of famer, Chris Bosh, once shared a story about Kobe’s self-decipline. He remembered waking up by sunrise for an early workout, just to see Kobe already sweating on the court, this was when Chris realised Kobe didn’t just arrive earlier than him, but had already trained for an amount of time. What’s more impressive is that Kobe was just playing in the NBA finals not long ago. For those who don’t play basketball, imagine waking up at 4 a.m. the day right after the end of the exam period, just to do more revision. In fact, waking up at 4 a.m. on a regular day is already difficult for most of us. Yet Kobe Bryant did this every single day.
From the story of Kobe, we can definitely make the conclusion that self-discipline is essential for success. The same goes for students. Getting good grades doesn’t only require talent. What’s more important, are the organized study plans and consistent study habits that we stick to every day. Shungtakians, let us learn from Kobe Bryant and continue to work hard even when things go _harder and more difficult. Last but not least, let us stay disciplined in our goals and strive for the best we can.
6L