Former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly gives remarks at UNCW’s Dare to Learn lecture series

"At times, failure is inevitable. We all fail at times, and it's [really] how you deal with it."

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY)–UNCW students are expanding their minds to endless opportunities. All while sitting in the Kenan Auditorium, learning valuable life lessons from experts like former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly. And among these eager scholars is Jordan Mcleod.

“It’s a really great opportunity. Captain Scott Kelly is so inspiring and such a great speaker and great person,” Mcleod said.

He’s serving as a student speaker in this year’s 2nd annual “Dare to Learn” lecture series. It’s an event encouraging bright young minds to discover a wide range of industries.

“Having the support from staff and mentors and faculty that got me to positions like this and what other people saw in me what I didn’t at the time see in myself,” Mcleod said.

He didn’t take it for granted. He has an organization called the Helping Hand Project, which creates 3D-printed prosthetics for free.

“We 3D print the designs custom to each individual and each request. It’s a big effort to reduce the health care inequalities and inequities within the limb difference community,” Mcleod said.

But you can shoot for the moon, and if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars. A topic Mcleod and his fellow pupils are learning about from Keynote Speaker Kelly.

“At times, failure is inevitable. We all fail at times, and it’s [really] how you deal with it. How you learn from it. How you respond to it is how it defines us,” Keely said. “Sometimes I come across kids, and they’re like, ‘Well, I’m not going to try that because I might fail,’ and I’m like, ‘If you don’t try it, how do you know what you’re capable of achieving?'”

And even if you miss, Kelly encourages students to continue trying, no matter how hard the challenges in front of them may seem.