Reclaiming Bobbie: Peeling Back Labels to Find the Woman I Almost Forgot
Who Am I, Really? There was a moment—maybe around my late 40s—when I looked in the mirror and thought, I don’t really know who I am anymore. Not in a dramatic, falling-apart way. But in a quiet, aching way.I had spent years being “Mom,” “Volunteer,” “HR Manager,” “Wife,” “Helper,” “Reliable One.” I had collected labels […]
The Gift of the Unseen Years: How God Prepared Me in the Silence
When the Spotlight Fades There was a time in my life when I thought I had missed my moment. I had studied acting. I was passionate, ready, and open to whatever God had for me. But then life stepped in, as it often does—beautiful and complicated. I became a mother. A single mother. I worked […]
Acting, HR, and Everything in Between: The Nonlinear Career Journey of Bobbie Jo Michalak
It Wasn’t a Straight Line—And That’s Okay If someone asked me to sum up my career path, I’d probably say, “It’s complicated… but beautiful.” My journey hasn’t followed a straight line. It hasn’t looked like a polished resume or a well-edited LinkedIn page. But it has shaped me in ways I never expected—and honestly, I […]
Why Volunteering is the Ultimate Confidence Builder for Aspiring Performers
More Than Just Giving Back When most people think of volunteering, they picture food pantries, charity drives, or soup kitchens. And yes—I’ve done all of that. I’ve sorted donations, served hot meals, and handed out Christmas gifts to children who otherwise wouldn’t have received one. But volunteering has given me more than I could have […]
Operation Santa and Other Missions of the Heart: Leading with Compassion Year-Round
How It All Started Seven years ago, I was volunteering at FISH Food Pantry in Carpentersville, Illinois. It was nearing the holidays, and I saw the stress in the eyes of the parents coming through the doors—parents who could barely afford groceries, let alone gifts for their children. I felt this pull in my heart, […]
From Soup Kitchens to Center Stage: How Volunteering Shapes a More Purposeful Acting Career
A Different Kind of Stage Before I ever walked onto a stage or stepped in front of a camera, I was standing in food pantries, serving hot meals, sorting donations, and collecting toys for kids who might not get a Christmas gift otherwise. For years, I spent more time volunteering than I did auditioning. And […]