Foreign language department teacher Dr. Lynne Sparks points to Spain on a world map in Room 390 on Sept. 29. Sparks grew up in Crescent City, Fla. and always dreamed of traveling the world. “I want to inspire (my students) to plan on someday traveling. I had never been out of the state of Florida until I turned 18. I was stuck,” Sparks said. “(Most of my students) have the options (to travel) and even if (they) don’t now (I hope they) will later take advantage of them.” Photo by Janie Ripps
The ODYSSEY Media Group will provide viewers with stylized profiles that center on people in the Athens community telling their own stories.
Foreign language department teacher Dr. Lynne Sparks has always dreamed big and having the opportunity to travel is one that came true.
When a student enters Room 390, they might expect to see a giant because of the booming voice they hear breaking past the door and flooding the hallway every day.
However, when a student walks into Room 390, they will find foreign language department teacher Dr. Lynne Sparks. Although she still has the booming voice of a giant, Sparks is short in stature and has glasses perched on her nose.
She shares her stories and loud personality with the students in her Spanish classes everyday, but growing up in poverty in the small town of Crescent City, Florida, Sparks had a different dream. It wasn’t to teach high school Spanish, but rather to escape her small town and travel the world.
(Sparks) wanted to experience new cultures, and when she was given the chance to study in Spain for her freshman year of college, she saw her ticket to freedom.
Up until the age of 18, Sparks had never been on an airplane before. She wanted to experience new cultures, and when she was given the chance to study in Spain for her freshman year of college, she saw her ticket to freedom.
“(Experiencing) another culture, learning another language (and) learning all the habits and customs that the culture has (is) an entire overwhelming experience that you can’t describe,” Sparks said. “Every time I learned a new word or I learned a new thing about the culture (in Spain), it was so exciting.”
A map displays foreign language department teacher Lynne Sparks’ travels to Spain. Sparks’ time overseas has continued to shape her life and she plans to continue traveling after her career in education comes to an end. “I want to continue to travel and what I did (when I was) young as I’m getting closer to retirement,” Sparks said. “I’m planning on living a couple months in Argentina, coming back for a month and then going to move to Venezuela and living (there) a couple months. I’m going to be doing long term living in other countries.” Map by Janie Ripps
The world was at her fingertips and she knew she had to seize any opportunity she was given to learn and grow from new experiences. The more time a student spends in Sparks’ classroom, the more they will realize how her time abroad still shapes her life everyday.
They will notice the sign in Spanish reading “¡Bienvenidos!” or “Welcome!” in English. Additionally, they may notice the posters for teen tours to Spain, Panama or Costa Rica, as well as colorful lights and sombreros hanging from the walls.
They may only focus on her loud personality or contagious laugh at first, but as they learn and grow, they will soon notice her passion to see new things and her dream to share the world with her students.
