A Trinity Prep Student’s Keynote on Failure, Growth, and the Future of STEM

It’s no secret that STEM is a major focus at Trinity Prep, with high-level science classes and numerous clubs that allow students to explore their passions. Sarah Cantwell, a Trinity Prep senior, exemplified this in a keynote address at the 2026 Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner. Speaking before leaders from the aerospace, defense, and government sectors in Washington, D.C., Cantwell used one of the industry’s most prestigious stages to make a deeply human point: success in STEM is not reserved for prodigies.

Cantwell, recipient of the 2026 Keynote Scholarship from the National Space Club and Foundation, was selected as the keynote speaker for the March 13 event. She began with a question: “What do I have to teach people who are exactly where I want to be?”

Sarah Cantwell’s Introduction to STEM

In previous keynote addresses, she heard a common theme: many speakers seemed to know from an early age exactly what they wanted to do. Her story was different. As a freshman, she wrote herself a letter admitting she had no clear direction and planned to simply go with the flow. The one thing she did know, she recalled, was that she did not want to go into STEM. The idea of taking another math class after high school felt, in her words, horrifying.

Everything changed in a class called Intro to Innovation and Design. Her teacher, Susan Frederick, recognized her potential and sparked an interest that would alter her path. After Cantwell began signing up for additional computer classes, Frederick encouraged her to join the cybersecurity team despite Cantwell's “many protests.” At the time, she was already balancing life as a four-sport athlete and president of the mock trial team. Cybersecurity did not seem like a natural fit. 

“People like me didn’t do cybersecurity. I didn’t fit the profile,” Cantwell said.

But Frederick kept pushing her forward. Looking back now, Cantwell said her younger self would hardly recognize the resume she has built: cybersecurity captain, Lockheed Martin intern, advanced calculus student, and aspiring computer engineer. Reflecting on that transformation, she joked that ninth-grade Sarah would ask, “Why would you do this to yourself?”

Making STEM More Accessible and Inclusive

Cantwell shared how quickly that culture can change when people feel invited in, as Frederick did with her. After encouraging a friend to join the club and seeing her continue to show up, she kept recruiting others. Eventually, interest grew so much that more students tried to join than there were available spots. She noted that belonging often begins when someone else first believes you belong. She also finds it helpful to understand that, especially in STEM, failure can be a building block for long-term success. 

“I firmly believe that success is built upon failure,” Cantwell said. “Yet, when we share our stories, especially in places like this, we strip out the messiness. I understand why. Nobody wants to look incapable. It might feel unprofessional or undermine capability. Why highlight the weaknesses you’ve worked so hard to overcome?”

To Cantwell, telling the full story makes it easier for someone else to believe they can begin. In a culture shaped by polished resumes and social media engagement, people are often rewarded for looking effortless. Cantwell urged the audience to resist that pressure and instead show what growth really looks like.

“The future of space and STEM will not be built by people who have never failed,” Cantwell said. “It will be built by people willing to show up imperfectly, fail openly, and build something better together.”

Cantwell’s keynote reminded the audience that talent matters, but courage, honesty, and perseverance may matter even more. Her story did not begin with certainty, and that is precisely why it resonated. These experiences all started in a STEM class at Trinity Prep, a school with a strong emphasis on creating accessible STEM programs that accomplish great things. Learn more about STEM at our school by visiting our website.