From growing up in care to graduating with a first-class honours degree

Keele's been my home for the last four years and I've felt support the whole time to achieve and to aspire to be better. So, it's an amazing feeling to have it culminate in such a special day. My name is Ciaran Marshall and I'm graduating with first class honours in music production and sound design.

I went into care at a very early age. A lot of my formative years were spent just trying to survive and live and try and get a good education. I've always said that the hardest thing in my life is not the academics because I'm passionate about academics and when you're passionate something comes easy. The hardest thing has always been financials and living situation and knowing if I can go somewhere for Christmas or Easter or if someone will send me a card for my birthday. To have family here, friends who've become family and to give me a home has been the biggest relief and the greatest weight off my shoulder to know that I have somewhere to go.

The music industry is filled with very privileged people. I want a sense of equity. I want to hear the stories that are different to yours and mine, and that doesn't just extend to foster children. It extends to people of colour and different backgrounds. When you're moving, when your home changes and your friends change, it's very difficult to get the stability to study. Your biggest worry is not your GCSEs, it's whether you're going to get kicked out tomorrow. So to overcome that, to have the strength to do that is unparalleled.

It's really, really difficult and I'm not stronger than the other foster kids who couldn't do that. I'm just very lucky.