Educational achievements both great and small are worth celebrating and commemorating. Through grit and perseverance, Dr. Sara Tompkins recently graduated from her doctorate program. When she graduated from nursing school, she received a nursing statue from her sister. Then, when she received her doctorate, her family paired it with this doctor statue. She keeps these statues with her to remind her of her family’s love and support and as a symbol of good luck.
Listen to Sara Tompkins in her own words:
This object is part of the “Personal Growth” section of the Artifacts of Experience exhibition designed by University of Cincinnati students in the “Introduction to Public History” course in 2023.
We encourage you to explore the other objects in our collection.
Transcript
Sydney Tompkins [ST]: Why did you choose the sculptures as your object of significance?
Sara Tompkins [SST]: I chose the sculptures because they were a gift to me, both at the very beginning of my career, and at the current stage of my career, and it just has deep meaning and connection to where I started and how far I’ve come. What does the sculptures mean to you? So, there are two sculptures of these little ceramic people. One’s the nurse and the nurse was given to me when I was 20 years old and graduating from nursing school. And I was really proud of that I had graduated at the age of 20, and was starting my career. Every time I’ve moved hospitals or offices, it always goes with me, and just has special meaning because it was a gift from my family because they were so proud of me. Then when I graduated with my doctorate program, my family went and searched and scoured and found the matching ceramic sculpture. That’s the doctor to represent the fact that I had gone back and gotten my doctorate degree.
[ST]: When you look at these sculptures, what other memories is it conjure up for you?
[SST]: Well, they’re decorated, almost like an old fashioned nurse. And I really love nursing and the history of nursing and it represents all of the nursing, dating back to the 1800s.
[ST]: And what is your favorite story to tell about the sculptures?
[SST]: Well, my sister is the one that actually gave them to me. And when she gave me the second one, we were both so excited. And I think it means as much to her as it does me that I consider it one of the most important possessions I have, and it stays with me. Always.
[ST]: Thank you