She got into music to pass the time as a distraction from the pain of a car crash.
But now musician Emily Maguire plays to thousands of people across the world.
And the singer-songwriter from Bath has inspired students to follow their dreams.
Around 100 students attended the An Audience With event at City of Bath College to ask the 38-year-old questions and listen to her perform.
Emily, who lives in Bath, has released four albums and has played a 16-date tour with American singer Don McLean.
But the classically-trained musician admits she was "a late starter" as she began writing her own music only when she was 21 after her mobility and nervous system was affected by the crash.
She said it took a lot to pluck up the courage to start singing at open-mic nights.
Emily, whose music is played on BBC Radio 2, said: "I wanted to play the guitar to distract myself and music became a complete blessing in disguise.
"At first I was absolutely terrified of performing live but I just went for it. You can't let anything get in your way, you have to overcome obstacles.
"I now realise I couldn't have got through that period of my life without music."
It was Emily's first time performing to college students but she agreed to the intimate gig in the students' union after meeting college music staff.
Emily, 38, whose career really took off when she was in Australia and made and sold cheese to pay for her first album, spoke openly about her journeys into psychosis and depression and the creativity of her tough battle with bi-polar disorder.
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