Louise Gooche

Growing up, Louise Gooche’s grandparents always encouraged her to get as much education as possible. She took that to heart, and earned a B.S in Nursing, an M.A. in Counseling, and a Doctorate degree in Adult Health Education. She has also received certifications in a wide range of disciplines, including mixology, automobile tune-up, floral arrangement, and real estate. She is an 18-year colon cancer survivor, something she attributes, at least in part, to years of being healthy and staying active. “I've had ups and downs along the way but the main thing I keep on my mind is that you've got to keep the body moving!” she says. She got involved with North Carolina Senior Games 23 years ago with the Durham County Senior Games. She started the Durham Senior Divas N’ Dudes as a way to reach another life goal - to be a cheerleader. She has been a long time NC Senior Games Ambassador, Board Member, and volunteer. 

 At almost 80 years old, Louise has seen and experienced both discrimination and the impacts landmark civil rights laws like Title IX have had. She has also been determined not to let discrimination stop her. “I think about Title IX, and I think back even further than that to the Civil Rights Movement. I was subjected to a lot of discriminatory acts all my life being African American,” she says,” Some of those acts, you know, it just became a common occurrence to the point that it did not change my lifestyle. I just did the things that I wanted to do or needed to do.” 

“Title IX was when we did start to see a lot of improvements for women in the arena of Education,” she says. Louise saw firsthand when studying, and then teaching nursing, how much women were discouraged or even prevented from entering STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields. “But since Title IX has really become a primary focus, we have seen all of that change,” she says. Women are encouraged to study, get an education, and there are more resources than ever before to help them do so. “Title IX is an exceptionally good act, and I'm so glad that it is here, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.”