By Samantha McKenzie

It’s Friday. The end of the work week and the beginning of the weekend. What better time to give a few special shout outs to the people who are rolling up their sleeves, taking another swipe at getting it right and making a contribution to this world that we live in.

Shout out to all those teachers who show up to the classrooms and care for our children in ways we will never understand. Thanks for standing in the gap – serving as a surrogate parent, counselor and referee (in between your lesson plans). Thanks for widening your shoulders and taking all of the blame for a failing school system. Thanks for teaching. For educating. For passing the torch.

Shout out to the police officers and law enforcement who really protect and serve. We know that you all aren’t bad and you’re not just showing up for a pay check. You serve because you took an oath. You serve because you value your duty. Thanks for tolerating the scrutiny, for enduring our fears and for taking the hit every time a bad guy in blue goes rogue. In these trying times, we need your calm head, your steady pace and your protection. Thanks for risking your life for us. Thanks for keeping us safe.

Shout out to the protesters. You’re the voice of the silent and the best example of a free country. Thanks for risking your freedom, for being the David to the big Goliath’s out there. Thanks for organizing, for galvanizing and for fighting for the rights of others. Thanks for being vigilant and resourceful. Thanks for holding our public servants and corporations accountable. Thanks for holding us accountable too. You get props for resisting and teaching us all how to resist with you.

Shout out to the media reps, the journalists and the fact-checkers. Thanks for standing your ground and showing up to get it right, in spite of the criticism. The fourth estate is alive and well, thanks to you. Without you, we’d be clueless, for real. Thanks for sorting out the facts, for following the paper trail, and for the impromptu interviews. Thanks for being relentless, sometimes pesty, and for staying hungry for the truth. Stay in the game. Your contribution makes us understand our Constitution.

Shout out to parents. The young and the old. It ain’t easy. We know it’s your love that keeps us going. Thanks especially to the single parents who work miracles just to see their children succeed. Shout out to foster parents, adoptive parents and surrogates. Thanks for your sacrifice and desire to take on the world’s toughest job. You rock with little reward! Thanks for patience, your guidance and your investment in your children, and in the neighbor’s children too. You repair a broken world. Thank you.

Shout out to college students. They don’t call it higher education for nothing. Keep pushing through.

Shout out to caretakers. Your strength is immeasurable.

Shout out to mental health professionals. Your expertise is #1 in my book.

Shout out to best friends. You see the good, the bad and the ugly and you’re still here.

Help me keep the shout outs going. We all could use some encouragement these days.

Shout out the people and things that you admire.

Shout out to…