Building Strength Through Sports

As a child, Catalina Friede could always be found on the field or the court. From an early age, Catalina participated in team sports that helped build the grit and communication she uses in her day-to-day life as a detective with the Gilroy Police Department. She continued to play in high school with great success, winning regional awards and taking her team to championships.

It was during this time that Catalina faced one of the first major pieces of adversity in her life—transferring schools. To gain more exposure to college scholarships, Catalina transferred to a more prestigious private school that would provide her with more opportunities to reach her goal of playing collegiate sports.

In addition to the adversity of transferring schools, after graduation, Catalina decided to forego collegiate opportunities and instead attended the local community college to take care of her brothers during her parents’ separation.

Finding Strength in Faith

After turning down several college scholarships for volleyball and soccer and dealing with her parents’ separation, Catalina was feeling lost. It was then she attended a new church with her friend.

“When you’re young and you’re trying to figure life out, things get confusing and because my parents were so caught up in their BS, you know, I was kind of left on my own. So, going to that church really built a foundation for me.”

Catalina admits that amid her adversity, the thing she wanted to do most was run away from her problems. It was the love for her brothers and the strength she found through a relationship with God that inspired her to stay and push through the hard times.

A Life-Changing Choice

Catalina began her professional career in accounting after her time at the local community college. After a life-changing and traumatic event that took the life of her stepsister, she chose to change careers and pursue a life as a law enforcement officer where she could help others.

“If you pay attention sometimes you learn from some of the most difficult things you have to go through.”

After joining and fighting through six months of adversity as a student at the police academy, Catalina graduated and began work as a police officer. For her, this career is all about helping those in need, no matter what that may be.

“You have to try your best to understand them because sometimes people just want to be heard, you know, and so what I’ve found, at least in my experience, is listening to what somebody has to say and then trying your best to come up with a solution is the best thing that you can offer them.”