Apolonia Nunez is about to become a rare young woman in the field of General Contractors in Florida. She passed the state exams in April and is about to receive her license.

Nunez’s parents David and Anita Nunez own a construction business, Seminole Design Build in Okeechobee, and she was raised around construction sites. Nunez has always admired the idea of creating buildings that will be used for years to come.

After earning her certificate at the Gold Coast Schools, she took the three rigorous state General Contractor exams, repeatedly. Each exam was 4 ½ to 6 ½ hours long.

“There was a time when I had to seriously ask myself whether passing this test was even a real possibility for me,” Nunez said. “One of them, in particular, was especially challenging. The passing score was 70%, and I found myself repeatedly making the two and a half hour drive to the testing center, only to score a 68.3% — just one question shy of what I needed. I did that four or five times before I finally passed. When I did, I exceeded the requirement by about ten points.”

The construction industry in Florida is dominated by men, but about 13.3% of the workforce is women, the third highest of any state after Alaska, Hawaii and Delaware, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The General Contractor license will allow Nunez to build commercial and residential properties throughout the state. A General Contractor oversees and coordinates all aspects of a construction project including securing permits, hiring subcontractors, managing the job site and more.

“I grew up watching my parents build and it was really fulfilling to see,” Nunez said. “I would like to build something where somebody can make their dreams come true. It’s exciting and I’m looking forward to getting my feet wet.”

Passing the state exams and getting her license has given Nunez the confidence to consider taking the national exam at some point and become certified in multiple states.

“I often tell people that drive, and perseverance will carry you further than any supposed natural talent,” Nunez said. “Becoming a General Contractor is well within reach for many—it starts with the belief that you’re capable. That was probably the major lesson for me through this experience. People sometimes assume it came easily to me, thinking I must learn things quickly. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. I wouldn’t say I’m especially smart—just curious, persistent, and unwilling to quit.”