Ever buy a new car? Oh my! Look at the fit and finish! That new car smell? Those pristine floor mats? The purr of the engine?
Can you imagine the pride of the last worker on that new car assembly line?
Almost like a proud parent.
But we know, the one who drove that new beauty out of the factory, was just the last one of many who put their best efforts into creating a vehicle that will, hopefully, give years and years of good service in transportation and satisfaction to its owners.
The pride I felt recently could not be measured when I thumbed through our local paper to find a half page display honoring a former student of mine as a health care employee at Viadent Medical Center.
Melissa Bradshaw, RN, was in my first Health Occupations class at West Craven High School. She was one of my early bright stars who clearly had the heart of a nurse. After high school, Melissa made a beeline to becoming an RN and immediately started working with babies.
Her experiences with newborns naturally morphed into becoming a lactation consultant, helping Moms and babies in successfully making that vital connection with ease and comfort.
Thing is, she was so kind to mention to the newspaper how I had planted the seeds of nursing in her high school experience. How humbling it is to be recognized in this way by someone who is a star in her field.
But – I stand on the shoulders of giants.
Like the last auto factory worker who understands the real credit goes to those who drew the plans, added the parts, and carefully engineered and assembled that shining vehicle, I had the privilege to put the cherry on the top of 12 years of education.
What a blessing to put all those English, science, math, and social studies classes into a career focus that inspired and gave direction to young minds.
Hats off to teachers everywhere who may mistakenly believe their efforts are anonymous or unrecognized. Each one of you is critical to forming all our futures. Those kids you teach today will be those who take care of us tomorrow. They will build our houses, design our cars, answer our medical questions, respond to our 911 calls … everything.
Being given credit for inspiring Melissa is better than a paycheck for sure; but it is ever so humbling to recognize who was holding me up so I could put the star on top!
Hug a teacher and say, “Thank you!”
Deidre
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