This year marks a remarkable milestone for Catalina, who is celebrating 10 years of working at Google. After graduating from Mountain View High School in 2016, Catalina began exploring what her future might hold. With both her mother and sister already working at Google, the family wondered if there might be an opportunity for her there as well.

Through her sister’s connection, Hope Services was introduced to Google’s Human Resources team, sparking what would become an innovative and groundbreaking partnership. What began as an opportunity for Catalina and her best friend has since grown into a thriving program that has employed 10 participants from Hope Services. At the time, this initiative was truly unprecedented at Google and has since become a model for inclusive hiring.

Catalina’s journey has not been without challenges. When she was just 10 days old, she experienced cardiac arrest and hypoxia, resulting in a permanent brain injury. Through determination and the support of Hope Services, she received job training and hands-on guidance that helped her build the skills needed to succeed in a professional environment.

Today, Catalina plays an important role at Google. Her responsibilities include cleaning and organizing workspaces, restocking supplies such as pens, sticky notes, and markers, and assisting with facility upkeep—ranging from repainting to identifying and reporting maintenance issues like broken chairs or faulty light switches. Catalina takes pride in keeping her workplace safe; her attention to detail helps prevent potential hazards for others.

Technology also plays a key role in her daily work. Catalina uses a Chromebook to communicate with her team and stay organized, helping her remain connected and efficient throughout the day.

“A lot of progress has been made,” says Shea, a Job Coach at Hope Services. “I’ve seen how far she has come over the years.” Navigating Google’s expansive offices can be challenging, especially as Catalina sometimes experiences memory difficulties. With the support of her job coach, she has developed strategies to confidently find her way, like associating certain elevators with her name to help her remember locations.

Beyond her work, Catalina enjoys the creative and vibrant environment at Google, especially themed spaces like the Harry Potter room, one of her favorites as a big fan of the films.

Catalina shares that without Hope Services, it would have been difficult to find an employer willing to provide the level of training and patience she needed. The personalized, step-by-step support she received made all the difference. While it took a few months to fully adjust to her role, she has since become a standout example among her peers.

Looking ahead, Catalina is excited about an upcoming trip to visit her father in the Galápagos this May.

For those just beginning their own career journeys, Catalina offers this advice:
“Don’t give up. Eventually, you will get a job. Don’t be embarrassed—people will accept you for who you are.”