A Nansemond-Suffolk Academy alumna left last week for almost a year teaching English in Malaysia.

Cheryl Walton, 24, learned in May she had been awarded a U.S. State Department Fulbright Scholarship. Her journey has been a lifelong dream for the traveler who already has lived in Egypt and visited Israel and Jordan.

“I’ve always wanted to teach English overseas,” she said. “I grew up in Girl Scouts for 14 years. I’ve always wanted to serve God and my country. I just figured it was my way of giving back.”

After graduating from NSA in 2007, Walton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from George Washington University in 2011 and went on to get her Master of Social Work degree from Norfolk State University in 2011.

She lived in Egypt through a Gilman Scholarship and also has served on Capitol Hill in the offices of Sens. Mark Warner and Richard Burr. She also is a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a national, co-ed community service fraternity.

Upon arrival in Malaysia, Walton began a three-week training session and will not find out where her final station will be or what grade level she will teach until she prepares to move there. The unknowns are part of the experience for her.

“I’ll be prepared for anything they throw my way,” she said. “It doesn’t really faze me.”

Walton attributes her drive to her faith, family and mentors.

“I just support her in her endeavors,” said her mother, Bonnie Walton. “There’s potential in everyone; it just needs to be developed. There should be nothing that holds them back. There’s nothing that can’t get you to where you want to go.”

Following her Malaysian sojourn, Walton hopes to return to Washington to pursue a career with the federal government in support of higher education. But she hopes traveling around the world will continue to be a part of her life.

“I do like to travel a lot, and I want to stay in public service,” she said.