College was one of the best times of my life.

Having started a record label and directed the Infinitime Music Awards, Etienne Kubwabo has gone on to do great things since graduating from West College Scotland in 2013. But he is forever grateful for the opportunities which have come about as a result of his course and the knowledge, skills and confidence he gained while at college.

Studying HND Creative Industries: Media and Communication, Etienne started out with little confidence in himself and his abilities. Etienne admits that he was always scared to take on projects for fear of failure, but that his lecturers encouraged him and ultimately gave him the self-belief he required to go far in his career.

My studies have definitely played a part in what I do today.

Starting his own company, Cre8ive Entertainment, was something which Etienne could never have done before his studies, and is a risk he is glad to have taken. Etienne’s aim is simple: to give a platform to all underrepresented musicians in Scotland and, eventually, to expand worldwide. With some people thinking he was crazy to be taking on such a big task, Etienne has proved them wrong and, nearly seven years later, his company is expanding in ways he had never expected.

The Infinitime Music Awards took place in Glasgow in November, and were masterminded by Etienne himself in order to further promote unsigned independent artists. Etienne and his team delivered a great night of celebration, fun and music, with current West College Scotland students stepping up as videographers, runners and photographers. This was not only Etienne’s way of giving youngsters the chance for some real-life experience in the industry, but also his way of giving back to the college.

Etienne’s hard work didn’t stop there, and he has been planning new projects such as feature films, music videos and commercials. Etienne believes that everyone has a story to tell, and is intent on helping more young people tell their stories through the media.

Etienne says, “I owe everything to my lecturers and to the college”. With the biggest reward being to see their former students succeed in life, the team at West College Scotland could not be happier to watch Etienne carve out a successful career in the entertainment industry.

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Image: Etienne with Shona Freeman, who works for Cre8ive Entertainment and who hosted the Infinitime Music Awards.