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Finding the “perfect job” isn’t easy.
But at 21 years old, Emma Lynam of Australia seems to have found a job that was meant for her in every possible way.
Emma has down syndrome, a mild form of autism, hearing loss, and was born with a cleft palette. All of these challenges make speech difficult for Emma. She is also unable to read or write.
But Emma has many passions in life, including music, dance, and shredding machines.
Source: ABC Open North Queensland
One day, Jo realized that Emma’s love of shredding machines would allow her the perfect opportunity to start her own business and stand on her own two feet. It was what she had always wished for her daughter — to earn her own living and live the normal life of a 21-year-old.
Jo sent out letters to different businesses in the area, asking if they would be interested in working with Emma to help her find a place in the community and make a difference. She received one response from Steve Scholefield at the Credit Union who said he had the perfect job for Emma.
Source: ABC Open North Queensland
He said, “Her enthusiasm with shredding and the fact that she couldn’t read made her the perfect candidate for something we also had a need for, which is to have someone do our shredding.” Since there are always confidential documents at the Credit Union needing to be disposed of, having Emma do all the shredding put Scholefield at ease knowing that all those documents would be in good, reliable hands.
Source: ABC Open North Queensland
Emma is continuing her business as Master Shredder, and Jo could not be more proud. She says, “I just cannot speak enough about how gratifying as a mum (it is) to see my daughter want to get up and go to work, and feel fulfilled that she’s doing something, that she’s helping… and making a difference in her own life, making her way like any other 21-year-old.”
It’s an amazing story where people came together to give a well-deserved opportunity to one individual, taking into consideration all the various traits she had to offer. It’s a lesson we can all learn — that we should concern ourselves more with what each of us can do, instead of focusing on the things that we can’t.