Minnesota State Patrol just graduated one of its most diverse classes ever, according to State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic.

The agency held its yearly graduation ceremony Friday, swearing in 35 new troopers.

“It is incredibly emotional. I’m surprised I haven’t cried today,” said Catherine Barrie-Medellin, one of two women in the group.

Barrie-Medellin decided to change careers after beating a rare and typically deadly form of appendix cancer.

The cancer was discovered during a C-section as she gave birth to twins.

“I finally came to a realization that if I could beat cancer, I could do anything I wanted to,” Barrie-Medellin said. “I’m here for a reason. This is it.”

Friday, at the age of 45, she finally realized her dream of becoming a state trooper.

“I want to show my daughter that you can do anything you want to do and mommy is living proof of that,” Barrie-Medellin said.

Yahya Abdi was also in the group of graduates.

“They tell me I’ll be the first Somali-American state trooper in Minnesota,” Abdi said.

Abdi grew up in Somalia, and his family fled the war there when he was a boy.

“I remember the suffering people were going through. I think I bring unique experience, language skills, culture, all of those things,” Abdi said.

The class also includes a member of the White Earth Nation, a man born in a refugee camp in Thailand and some former police officers.

The troopers have a few more weeks of field training and will start their solo patrols this summer.

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