News
Reclaiming Her Purpose: Bobbie Jo Selin’s Journey Back to Nursing
May 11, 2025
For Bobbie Jo Selin, returning to school to pursue her Associate Degree Nursing at Northwood Technical College has been a journey marked by resilience, healing, and purpose.
Selin, who anticipates graduating in fall 2025, is fueled by a mix of life experience and compassion — she’s worked as an LPN, raised three kids, and cared for people in their final days — all of which inspired her to return to healthcare and make a difference for others.
Selin was married and had her first two children in 2000 and 2004. Then, her life changed significantly. “I had been working as an LPN for a few years, and my husband died unexpectedly in 2006. My kids were only 5 and 16 months old, so I immediately became a stay-at-home mom. My life, in a way, was put on hold. But, to me, there was no place that I was needed more than to be there for my children. We had a lot of healing to do,” said Selin.
In 2007, Selin met her now-husband and welcomed another child in 2008. While her focus remained on raising her family, it would take more than a decade before she found her way back to caregiving — and experienced the “aha” moment that reignited her career path.
Bobbie Jo Selin in the classroom doing hands-on activities for her nursing degree.
Reigniting her passion
In 2018, she returned to caregiving saying, “I was asked to join a team of ladies to care for an elderly gentleman who wanted to live out the last days of his life in his home. I have continued to do this for other people. It has been one of the most meaningful, rewarding things that I have done in my life besides being a mom.”
With this renewed sense of purpose, Selin decided to look into going back to school. She said she had heard positive feedback about Northwood Tech’s nursing program, but initially decided her plan would be to study medical coding.
She would soon find out that wasn’t the path she was meant to take. “I contacted the school to get registered, and something kept tugging at me to find out about the nursing program,” she said. “I decided that I at least needed to look into it, and if the doors opened, then that was the direction that I was meant to go. Well, the doors flew open, and everything lined up and fell into place. I knew, for probably the first time in my life, that I was on the right path, and Northwood was the place to begin my journey!”
Finding strength in support and community at Northwood Tech
Now that she’s been in the program for a while, Selin said the support and environment at Northwood Tech have confirmed her decision to go back to school.
“My favorite part about attending Northwood Tech is the small-town, community feel,” she said. “I know it probably sounds cliché, but everyone is so kind and helpful. I feel welcome every time I walk through the doors! The staff really wants the students to succeed, and they have so many great resources in place to make that happen.”
While returning to college after any year has not been without its challenges, Selin says the biggest challenge has been the technology aspect.
“I am not a traditional college student and have been out of school for many years,” Selin said. “I am definitely an old-school learner and like a physical book to read and highlight, and taking notes on paper. So, one of the biggest obstacles for me has been navigating the technology portion of the program — like completing assignments online, and figuring out how to create pamphlets, PowerPoints and different assignments. I am fortunate to have a great group of young women with me that are always willing to help, one of them being my daughter!”
She credits both her peers and faculty with helping her adapt, but also points out that she utilized another resource available to students on campus.
“The Academic Support Center and all the ladies there have also been a wonderful resource, and they're always willing to help! I am very grateful for that.”
Selin says she is most proud of starting the process with the Accuplacer test and scoring high enough to enroll directly in the nursing program. She studied hard, knowing her time away from school would be a challenge—but she not only met that challenge, she surpassed it.
She also acknowledges that the journey hasn’t been without its struggles.
“There have been times in the program that I was ready to give up. Scared to death of failing, and I continued to put one foot in front of the other and now I only have one semester left!”
Part of her strength to keep going, she says, came from the influence of someone else—Heather Souders, an associate degree nursing instructor.
“I want to give a shout-out to Heather Souders. She has been through so much over the last few years of her life and yet nothing stops her! There were so many times in third semester, by far the hardest semester in nursing school, that I would wonder how I was going to get through it, and then I would think about Heather and what she has conquered and how strong she is, and it helped me to keep going forward!”
Looking ahead
As she continues her education and looks ahead to graduating in December 2025, Selin said the experience has already changed her life in ways she never expected.
“I feel like I don't even have words to describe the impact this is going to have on my life,” she said. “I have gained confidence, and I am so proud of myself for doing this when I didn’t think it was possible! This education is going to allow me to go on to get a job where I am giving back to the community around me and the ability to care for people at their most vulnerable. I feel like as a human being, one of the most important things we can do is care for one another.”
If Bobbie Jo’s story encouraged you to consider nursing as a career, you can find more information by visiting NorthwoodTech.edu/Nursing.
