NBC12 Viewpoint: Honoring teachers, nurses and mothers!

By: Kym Grinnage - email

This past week had the distinction of being both National Teachers Week and National Nurses Week.

During this time of low unemployment, great opportunity and a focus on workforce development, it a great time to salute the great teachers of Richmond and Central Virginia for all of the work they do everyday to prepare our young people for being successful and productive citizens.

Teachers are our everyday heroes, who unselfishly get the job done every day and many times under challenging circumstances. Each day they change a life, one child, one student at a time.

And speaking of heroes, what would we do without the army of nurses who make sure that healthcare in America truly works. A nurse is more than a healthcare practitioner.

The nurse is the first and the last person you see when you visit the doctor's office or the hospital. The nurse is the caregiver at the beginning of and the end of a traumatic health event. The nurse is the one who needs to hear: "I don't know how I would have done this without you."

In honor of our teachers and nurses, I urge young people and career switchers to consider a career as a nurse or a teacher. So, to all of the current and former teachers and nurses, we say "thank you."

And finally, a salute to all mothers and to those who are like a mother to someone. Let me share this quote by Mitch Albom: "I realized when you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know."

Happy Mother's Day!