LIKE most young people of her age, Megan Rennoldson has one burning ambition: To get a job. She will cheerfully tell you "I don't want charity, I am prepared to work hard and will try anything". I'm sure readers will have heard that kind of expression many times, but this time it comes from a young lady - Megan is 23 - who suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Mannosidosis, which means her body doesn't make an enzyne that digests waste sugar. The condition causes deafness, joint discomfort, restricted growth and poor eyesight. However, Megan has never let the condition affect her zest for life. In fact, as we see when she calls into The Beacon Office, she is a young woman with a sparkling sense of humour and a great desire to get on with her life. In fact, a pleasure to have around. Just recently, on her own, she raised nearly £124 for the national charity which is carrying out research into the disorder with which she suffers. For the past eighteen months Megan has worked as an unpaid volunteer at the British Heart Foundation shop in Monmouth, where she has regular dealings with the public. But Megan desperately wants a job, either full or part time, and has been regularly applying for positions in not only Monmouth but in the surrounding areas. "I work as hard as I can in whatever I do and I'm conscientious, polite and friendly" she told me. "Surely that's what people want from someone working in either a shop or an office". Megan studied for four years at Cross Keys College and learnt office skills, including ICT., filing, computer literacy, word, Access, Powerpoint, etc., but ruefully reflects "I haven't been able tot est these skills in the workplace yet". She added "I would really like the chance to show an employer that, with just a little help, I can work well and effectively. "Just getting past that first hurdle would be such a great step for me. I would consider anything, even a two week work placement, to start me off, would be great". She hesitated and then added "Or are the statements about equal opportunities just talk". Megan is certainly a dedicated young lady, who just wants an opportunity to show what she can do. Surely, there is someone out there who is prepared to give her that chance. And what a Christmas present that would be for Megan, who is pictured reading her copy of The Beacon.
