It had been more than 20 years since Betty Blancher of Abita Springs had last been in a classroom. She briefly attended the University of New Orleans after graduating from high school in 1980, but it had been since about 1982 that she played the role of student.

That was before Blancher, who was working with Volunteers of America at the time, heard William Wainwright deliver a talk about Louisiana Technical College.

“After Katrina, I lost my house �- lost my job because the doctor I was working for decided to retire. I decided to give back by working with Volunteers of America �” but I still had a yearning to go to school. One day I decided I had lost everything and made the decision to go back to school.”

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Wainwright’s talk drew her to LTC, where she graduated with honors from the practical nursing program last month. Blancher will sit for her nursing boards later this month.

Between that stint in college and her return to the classroom, Blancher raised two sons, now ages 18 and 21. She also was part of the workforce, working for an oncologist after her kids were, as she put it, “in school and settled.”

“He (oncologist) and his nurse were the inspiration for my going to nursing school,” she said.

“They said I was a natural,” she said, laughing a bit.

“I was able to take apart the hematology machine �- I was kind of their repairman,” she said.

But becoming a student wasn’t as easy as it might sound.

“I really felt awkward and intimidated because of my age,” she admitted. “Then, I got there and found out I was actually the oldest one in the class and I was even more intimidated.”

Blancher said her instructors helped her through that uneasiness and the fact she was, as she put it, “old enough to be their mother,” her age was anything but an impediment.

“Several looked at me that way (as their mother) and some even called me ‘Mom’,” she said.

Blancher, who will go to Baton Rouge next week for a review class, said nightly preparation for the intense program was a family affair.

“My kids and my husband were very supportive,” she said. “My husband actually worked two jobs to pick up my slack �- and my youngest would sit there and help me study. After he did that, I would help him study.”

Blancher said she is concentrating on passing her state boards before looking for jobs.

“I want to do it (take the test) one time only,” she said. “I want to get my license before I start talking to people, because most of them are looking for someone to hire now and not have to wait until you get your license.”

Blancher said persons thinking about returning to the classroom to pursue a change in careers shouldn’t hesitate, even if they are older.

“Do it,” she said. “Don’t let anything or anybody stand in the way. I’m actually trying to talk one of my girlfriends into it right now.”