A life-time love of travel for history teacher Cynthia Sweatte began in her early childhood. The military stationed her father in England, and as she grew up, various assignments relocated him to different bases around the world. While living in England, she was granted the opportunity to travel to Berlin with her parents. 

“That made such a huge impact,” Sweatte said. “Being able to see East Berlin and seeing how different it was at that time than the West side and England. I had a curiosity about why all places aren’t the same.”

Sweatte teaches Intro to AP World History and AP World History. Though her love of the past is evident in how she speaks about the places she has traveled to, including Rome, Hungary and Canada, Sweatte didn’t start out in history. 

Originally, she was a French major and earned her Master’s in International Business. Working with exporters, she traveled to places such as the Netherlands and Spain, an opportunity Sweatte considered lucky. 

“I had all kinds of weird experiences that happened,” Sweatte said. One time, she became hopelessly lost during a trip to Amsterdam when she attempted to find her hotel. 

“They were whirlwind trips,” Sweatte added.

Sweatte plans her trips now, especially due to COVID-19, and she still fosters her love for travel, especially with or to see her family.

“One of my sons lives in Canada,” she said. “So this summer I went up to see him, and he and his girlfriend took me around and showed me some things I’d never seen before in Ottawa.”

Sweatte’s traveled to many different cities and countries, for work, fun and school trips. However, a few locations still remain on her bucket list for the future.

“I’ve never been to Asia at all, but I also have never been to Africa or South America,” Sweatte said. “There are a lot of places I would still like to go.”