It would be a gross understatement to say that Jamie Dalgoutte has overcome adversity to get to where he is today, smartly dressed in a kilt, white shirt and shades and about to graduate from one of Scotland's top universities.

He was put into care at six months and by the age of five he had been moved between 14 different foster families.

Estranged from his father, he says he became an "orphan" at 10 when his mother died.

He was not invited to any school trips because of "bad behaviour" but had little in the way of counselling to explore the reasons why he was acting up in the classroom.

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He grew up believing he was "too difficult for foster carers".

The natural expectation, he says, was that he would end up in prison.

Two days ago, the 29-year-old was awarded a Batchelor of Arts degree in Community Development with distinction from the University of Glasgow. 

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Among those cheering him on as he collected his certificate was the head teacher whom he says spurred him on to achieve. 

"I was in and out of the care system for 21 years of my life," he says.

"By the time I was five I had lived with 14 different foster families. I was in and out of residential care homes as well and then back and forward to my mum, who was Bipolar.

"I had a really terrible time.

"Basically I was unloved. I was too difficult for foster carers to take on apparently."

He reveals that he was also in an abusive placement during his primary school years.

"The early years of my life were horrific," he says. "I never knew where I was going, I never knew who I would get passed to."

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He says the fostering system has "come a long way" but says in many cases carers are not adequately trained for the role.

"They can do all the training but they are never prepared for the turbulence that young people in care experience," he says.

"I think there are a lot of processes  in place [now] to help carers and young people but certainly there are still issues." 

When he was five, he was moved to another foster family where he stayed until he was 17.

However, he says it was eight years before he was told he would be staying with the couple permanently which left its mark psychologically.

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"What used to happen was that social work would come to the foster home to give us updates and I would ask them 'when am I getting my new mum and dad?'

He says the foster placement had a difficult ending. 

"I think my carers recognised their role as taking me into some level of success, preferably a degree and then that was 'job done'," he says.

"No doubt they will be proud of sorts but it will never be a re-connection."

He has an older brother, whom he was separated from.

He credits his former head teacher Billy Brotherston from Greenwood Academy in Dreghorn in North Ayrshire for getting him the support he needed in school. (Mr Brotherston was there when Jamie graduated on Thursday).

"He vouched for me," he says.

"I don't think professionals really understood the trauma of young people in care. I didn't get therapy.

"Billy put a real structure in place to help me. I never made a single school trip because of my bad behaviour.

"I was on a behaviour timetable the whole time I was in school."

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He says the breakthrough came when he was 16 and he was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) which can cause restlessness, trouble concentrating and impulsive behaviour.

"My prelims were all fails and I started my medication and I passed everything," he says.

"Billy was the key instrument to helping me get through school."

After he left school he completed a modern apprenticeship in youth work with North Ayrshire Council.

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"The natural progression was to do a degree in community development at Glasgow University," he says.

He had a "false start" enrolling at 19 when he wasn't quite ready and hadn't dealt with his childhood trauma.

He got a job at Glasgow Caledonian University and says his manager encouraged him to go back to higher education.

He says the course he chose is "basically about changing the world" a bit at a time.

"It's about helping people to improve the area they live in and individually improve their own lives," says the 29-year-old, who has a partner, Megan Westrop.

He now has a job with East Ayrshire Council as community worker but says he also wants to deliver workshops to care sector professionals to ensure lessons are learned from his own experiences.

"I had no autonomy, it was what everyone believed was the best for me," says the 29-year-old.

"I'd like to be a bit of a beacon for anyone else in care and anyone who has come through difficult times.

"I could have gone in so many different directions.

"The natural expectation was, that I would go to prison, I would have gone down the route of drug misuse.

"You have to visualise a better life.

"What young people in care will do is when there is trauma and neglect sometimes they will create other places [in their imagination].

"I always knew I wanted a greater life, a family life, a working life."

Rachel Sandison, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, External Engagement at the University of Glasgow, said: "Your background must never be a barrier to higher education, and at the University of Glasgow we have a proud tradition and strong commitment to widening participation, with access programmes designed to help and support those who want to study with us.
 
“We are delighted that Jamie has excelled in his studies, and he should take great pride in all that he has achieved through his hard work, dedication and skills.

"He is an exceptional member of TeamUofG, and I am sure will be a true world changer in whatever he choses to do next.”