As a kid, Christina Lara spent most of her time outdoors. "I was always in the dirt," she says. Then, considering her current career, she adds, "And I'm still playing in the dirt."

Christina is a Miner on the Project, which means she spends the entirety of her shift working underground. As a bottom lander, it is her responsibility to support the ongoing work in the tunnels by coordinating equipment going back and forth to the surface. She radios with the two cranes above to deliver piping, tunnel segments, tools and anything else required.

Christina comes from a construction family; both of her parents retired from Laborers Local 300. Prior to this project, Christina worked installing an industrial water pipeline in Pasadena and has done everything from trenching to waterproofing to installing school lockers. Following in her parents' footsteps, she became a Journeyman in Local 300 at the beginning of this year.

Jobs Coordinator firm Modern Times, Inc. arranged an interview for Christina with an FKTP JV superintendent and she was quickly hired onto the Project. This is Christina's first tunnel project and she has learned a lot from her colleagues so far. "It's exciting to work on a project of this scale," she says. Christina is also a veteran and is now working across the street from the West Los Angeles Veteran Affairs Medical Center.

Christina was recently promoted to her position as Miner, which she understands is an opportunity that few women have. So while her work can be exhausting, it is also rewarding. "At the end of the day, you feel like you've had a purpose," she explains. "You've been successful in achieving something."