Story 6

Who would imagine that right when you thought you were going to be a pediatrician you end up being a career advisor? Maria Barlage started thinking that she was set out to be a doctor, but after much thought and consideration, realized that it wasn’t a fit for her.

Maria Barlage grew up in a small town 20 miles north of Alexandria, Minn. called Parkers Prairie. She started out in Fergus Falls at the local school, Minnesota State Community and Technical College. Where she took a few classes and realized that she needed to get to a larger school to pursue her study to be a pediatrician. Barlage then headed to the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD); where she started her path to a doctorates degree. After taking many classes related to the in depth science programs related to her career path, Barlage decided that medicine wasn’t the path for her.

While she finished up her four year degree at UMD, Barlage realized that she wanted to be in a career that allowed her to be around people. Sitting in a cubicle wasn’t what she wanted. She knew she destined to help people. So after many fun and different ideas, such as an interior designer and with being such a free spirit, it was hard to nail down one career idea right away. But after a lot of consideration, so after going to a few job fairs, talking to different people, and even being at UMD, Barlage wanted to be a counselor. Although helping people with personal problems and different issues like that, it seemed a bit overwhelming for her, so after awhile, Barlage realized that being a career counselor would be a better fit for her personality and lifestyle. She then finished out her graduates degree at the UMD knowing what she wanted to do.

After being with her husband, Barlage ended up settling down in Princeton Minn. where her husband works in Rogers and where she works in Cambridge at Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC). Living in Princeton works out well for Barlage and her husband since it’s a nice close commute to both of their jobs. Barlage also has two beautiful daughters Madelyn, 6 and Mariana, 8 months.

Barlage has been at ARCC for the last 10 years and has loved every minute of it. “I like the creativity and all of the different career ideas of the students that I get to work with.” Barlage said after asking her on what was one of the things that keeps her interested in her job. Even after being a career advisor for 10 years, the different career goals and ideas change with every student. “It makes me want go out and try all of these different careers that I hear about!” So with many years of advising careers ahead of Maria Barlage, she can dream about all of the different things that she too might want to do in her lifetime, along with guiding the minds of young and old to their career destinations as well.