Vice President; Rates, Fixed Income Currencies and Commodities at Bank of America Securities
A hard-working highflyer in study and career, alumnus Aman Sharma wants Drayton Manor students to know that studying hard is well worth it for their future career.
Aman studied at Drayton Manor between 2003 and 2010 and he graduated from Imperial College, London in 2013. Aiming high to achieve no lower than an 'A' in any of his subjects and in public exams, Aman achieved this goal and received A* and A grades in his subjects including Maths, Biology and Chemistry. Aman said Maths had been his favourite subject when he was at school. He believed Maths involves fast, critical and logical thinking. The concept of Maths also applies in everyday life and all circumstances.
With superb academic results, Aman studied Engineering, graduating with a First Class Honours in his undergraduate study. Since then, he has been working at an investment bank in the City of London.
Reflecting on his time at Drayton Manor, Aman said that he worked with his teachers to get the best from himself and feels that this helped him achieve so well.
‘The teachers looked past some of my struggles and worked with me. They saw a talent that could grow - the confidence in several teachers believing in you goes a long way.’
OUR ALUMNI COMMUNITY
THE DraytonianS
The Draytonians is the school’s alumni community. We continue to work to strengthen the association we enjoy with former students. A great school is often measured by the achievements of its alumni, and they serve as both inspiration and support for subsequent generations of Draytonians.
ALUMNI
Ambassadors
Aman
Christopher
Associate Director of Relationship Management Systems at US Agency for International Development
Chris has a high regard of the education given to him by Drayton Manor. He says that the school allowed him to be a part of a community of different backgrounds in a way that is quite rare in the real world. The skills that Chris gained from learning in this environment set him up with a good foundation for his career in the humanitarian field.
At Drayton Manor, he won the Darryl Shave award and achieved an A in A-level History and A* in English Literature. Chris admitted that his favourite subject would be “a tight contest between History and English Literature”.
After studying at Drayton Manor for GCSE and A levels, Chris had a dynamic path for his future studies and career progression. He secured a place at King's College, London and completed a Bachelor’s Degree in War Studies. Soon after, he joined the US Army Reserve as a Civil Affairs specialist. Chris spent three years based out of Germany, where he completed his Master of Arts degree and worked in humanitarian assistance in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2018, he made the transition to work in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a US government agency for humanitarian aid, in Washington DC. He has now worked for the agency for almost four years.
Chris’ top tip for students would be to be creative about your options in life and your career. You'll have a far more exciting and fulfilling time than those who try and go down the ‘usual’ path.
Chris has a high regard of the education given to him by Drayton Manor. He says that the school allowed him to be a part of a community of different backgrounds in a way that is quite rare in the real world. The skills that Chris gained from learning in this environment set him up with a good foundation for his career in the humanitarian field.
At Drayton Manor, he won the Darryl Shave award and achieved an A in A-level History and A* in English Literature. Chris admitted that his favourite subject would be “a tight contest between History and English Literature”.
After studying at Drayton Manor for GCSE and A levels, Chris had a dynamic path for his future studies and career progression. He secured a place at King's College, London and completed a Bachelor’s Degree in War Studies. Soon after, he joined the US Army Reserve as a Civil Affairs specialist. Chris spent three years based out of Germany, where he completed his Master of Arts degree and worked in humanitarian assistance in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2018, he made the transition to work in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a US government agency for humanitarian aid, in Washington DC. He has now worked for the agency for almost four years.
Chris’ top tip for students would be to be creative about your options in life and your career. You'll have a far more exciting and fulfilling time than those who try and go down the ‘usual’ path.
Jessica
(Wednesday 23 March 2016)
Jai Patel was a student at Drayton Manor Sixth Form from 2007 until 2009 and is currently supporting rock legends Iron Maiden on their world tour with his band The Raven Age. Jai is currently in Rio de Janeiro but has taken a break between shows to tell us a bit more about his musical journey.
“With a tour like this you think it's going to be the most amazing thing, but it really is much more. I knew it was going to be huge but you don't really get it until you experience something of this magnitude. Iron Maiden have their own plane and we are so lucky to be travelling on it too, not to mention the venues and the crowds which are huge! There are people waiting at airports and hotels and they even know who we are, not just Iron Maiden, which is surreal. Playing in stadiums is such an incredible feeling, I never thought or even dreamed of doing something like this.”
Jai started playing the drums for the Duke of Edinburgh Award when he was 14 but did not focus on them until he joined the school. “I got my first drum kit in November 2007. Two of my best friends both played the drums and they showed me the ropes which I picked up quite quickly.”
He also tells us how he became part of The Raven Age. “It's a pretty interesting story actually. I did a cover on the drums of a song called Dark Day by Parkway Drive on YouTube and it got a lot of views as it was one of the first drum covers online. Guitarists Dan and George of The Raven Age saw it and messaged me to ask if I wanted to join the band as they needed a drummer. I ended up visiting the studio and recording a song for them and the rest is history!”
The tour with Iron Maiden does not finish until August, and Jai is focused on ‘spreading the Raven’s wings’ and building their ever increasing fan base.
“We have our debut album coming out this year so we are very excited and we hope to support other acts on their tours and really build on the fan base we are currently generating around the world.”
During his time at Drayton Manor, he was part of a band called Fall From Within with fellow students who performed at various assemblies and received huge praise from staff and students. The band were also interviewed for a feature in the 2008-09 Phoenix magazine, which you can view by clicking here.
“My time at Drayton Manor was great! I was the only drummer on the music course and the school was very supportive. They bought a drum kit which I did my exams on and I was able to play my first concerts at assemblies and other school events. It is great that we have managed to keep in contact because I have a lot to thank Drayton Manor for. If it was not for my time there, I would not be living my dream right now.”
The school would like to congratulate Jai on his success and wish him the best of luck for the rest of the tour and for the future. We hope to welcome Jai back to the school one day to hear more about his musical journey.
(Friday 17 March 2017)
Former student Jai Patel has released his debut album ‘Darkness Will Rise’ with his band, The Raven Age. Jai was the Guest of Honour at our Awards Evening in November, and impressed the audience with a solo drum performance which acted as the finale to the evening.
The Raven Age were also recently awarded ‘Best New Band’ by Planet Rock at The Rocks Awards after going up against nine other bands. They are currently touring with metal icons Anthrax.
We would like to offer Jai and The Raven Age our warmest congratulations on their achievement.
Jai Patel was a student at Drayton Manor Sixth Form from 2007 until 2009 and is currently supporting rock legends Iron Maiden on their world tour with his band The Raven Age. Jai is currently in Rio de Janeiro but has taken a break between shows to tell us a bit more about his musical journey.
“With a tour like this you think it's going to be the most amazing thing, but it really is much more. I knew it was going to be huge but you don't really get it until you experience something of this magnitude. Iron Maiden have their own plane and we are so lucky to be travelling on it too, not to mention the venues and the crowds which are huge! There are people waiting at airports and hotels and they even know who we are, not just Iron Maiden, which is surreal. Playing in stadiums is such an incredible feeling, I never thought or even dreamed of doing something like this.”
Jai started playing the drums for the Duke of Edinburgh Award when he was 14 but did not focus on them until he joined the school. “I got my first drum kit in November 2007. Two of my best friends both played the drums and they showed me the ropes which I picked up quite quickly.”
He also tells us how he became part of The Raven Age. “It's a pretty interesting story actually. I did a cover on the drums of a song called Dark Day by Parkway Drive on YouTube and it got a lot of views as it was one of the first drum covers online. Guitarists Dan and George of The Raven Age saw it and messaged me to ask if I wanted to join the band as they needed a drummer. I ended up visiting the studio and recording a song for them and the rest is history!”
The tour with Iron Maiden does not finish until August, and Jai is focused on ‘spreading the Raven’s wings’ and building their ever increasing fan base.
“We have our debut album coming out this year so we are very excited and we hope to support other acts on their tours and really build on the fan base we are currently generating around the world.”
During his time at Drayton Manor, he was part of a band called Fall From Within with fellow students who performed at various assemblies and received huge praise from staff and students. The band were also interviewed for a feature in the 2008-09 Phoenix magazine, which you can view by clicking here.
“My time at Drayton Manor was great! I was the only drummer on the music course and the school was very supportive. They bought a drum kit which I did my exams on and I was able to play my first concerts at assemblies and other school events. It is great that we have managed to keep in contact because I have a lot to thank Drayton Manor for. If it was not for my time there, I would not be living my dream right now.”
The school would like to congratulate Jai on his success and wish him the best of luck for the rest of the tour and for the future. We hope to welcome Jai back to the school one day to hear more about his musical journey.
(Friday 17 March 2017)
Former student Jai Patel has released his debut album ‘Darkness Will Rise’ with his band, The Raven Age. Jai was the Guest of Honour at our Awards Evening in November, and impressed the audience with a solo drum performance which acted as the finale to the evening.
The Raven Age were also recently awarded ‘Best New Band’ by Planet Rock at The Rocks Awards after going up against nine other bands. They are currently touring with metal icons Anthrax.
We would like to offer Jai and The Raven Age our warmest congratulations on their achievement.
Aman
Vice President; Rates, Fixed Income Currencies and Commodities at Bank of America Securities
A hard-working highflyer in study and career, alumnus Aman Sharma wants Drayton Manor students to know that studying hard is well worth it for their future career.
Aman studied at Drayton Manor between 2003 and 2010 and he graduated from Imperial College, London in 2013. Aiming high to achieve no lower than an 'A' in any of his subjects and in public exams, Aman achieved this goal and received A* and A grades in his subjects including Maths, Biology and Chemistry. Aman said Maths had been his favourite subject when he was at school. He believed Maths involves fast, critical and logical thinking. The concept of Maths also applies in everyday life and all circumstances.
With superb academic results, Aman studied Engineering, graduating with a First Class Honours in his undergraduate study. Since then, he has been working at an investment bank in the City of London.
Reflecting on his time at Drayton Manor, Aman said that he worked with his teachers to get the best from himself and feels that this helped him achieve so well.
‘The teachers looked past some of my struggles and worked with me. They saw a talent that could grow - the confidence in several teachers believing in you goes a long way.’
A hard-working highflyer in study and career, alumnus Aman Sharma wants Drayton Manor students to know that studying hard is well worth it for their future career.
Aman studied at Drayton Manor between 2003 and 2010 and he graduated from Imperial College, London in 2013. Aiming high to achieve no lower than an 'A' in any of his subjects and in public exams, Aman achieved this goal and received A* and A grades in his subjects including Maths, Biology and Chemistry. Aman said Maths had been his favourite subject when he was at school. He believed Maths involves fast, critical and logical thinking. The concept of Maths also applies in everyday life and all circumstances.
With superb academic results, Aman studied Engineering, graduating with a First Class Honours in his undergraduate study. Since then, he has been working at an investment bank in the City of London.
Reflecting on his time at Drayton Manor, Aman said that he worked with his teachers to get the best from himself and feels that this helped him achieve so well.
‘The teachers looked past some of my struggles and worked with me. They saw a talent that could grow - the confidence in several teachers believing in you goes a long way.’
Christopher
Associate Director of Relationship Management Systems at US Agency for International Development
Chris has a high regard of the education given to him by Drayton Manor. He says that the school allowed him to be a part of a community of different backgrounds in a way that is quite rare in the real world. The skills that Chris gained from learning in this environment set him up with a good foundation for his career in the humanitarian field.
At Drayton Manor, he won the Darryl Shave award and achieved an A in A-level History and A* in English Literature. Chris admitted that his favourite subject would be “a tight contest between History and English Literature”.
After studying at Drayton Manor for GCSE and A levels, Chris had a dynamic path for his future studies and career progression. He secured a place at King's College, London and completed a Bachelor’s Degree in War Studies. Soon after, he joined the US Army Reserve as a Civil Affairs specialist. Chris spent three years based out of Germany, where he completed his Master of Arts degree and worked in humanitarian assistance in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2018, he made the transition to work in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a US government agency for humanitarian aid, in Washington DC. He has now worked for the agency for almost four years.
Chris’ top tip for students would be to be creative about your options in life and your career. You'll have a far more exciting and fulfilling time than those who try and go down the ‘usual’ path.
Chris has a high regard of the education given to him by Drayton Manor. He says that the school allowed him to be a part of a community of different backgrounds in a way that is quite rare in the real world. The skills that Chris gained from learning in this environment set him up with a good foundation for his career in the humanitarian field.
At Drayton Manor, he won the Darryl Shave award and achieved an A in A-level History and A* in English Literature. Chris admitted that his favourite subject would be “a tight contest between History and English Literature”.
After studying at Drayton Manor for GCSE and A levels, Chris had a dynamic path for his future studies and career progression. He secured a place at King's College, London and completed a Bachelor’s Degree in War Studies. Soon after, he joined the US Army Reserve as a Civil Affairs specialist. Chris spent three years based out of Germany, where he completed his Master of Arts degree and worked in humanitarian assistance in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2018, he made the transition to work in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a US government agency for humanitarian aid, in Washington DC. He has now worked for the agency for almost four years.
Chris’ top tip for students would be to be creative about your options in life and your career. You'll have a far more exciting and fulfilling time than those who try and go down the ‘usual’ path.
Jessica
(Wednesday 23 March 2016)
Jai Patel was a student at Drayton Manor Sixth Form from 2007 until 2009 and is currently supporting rock legends Iron Maiden on their world tour with his band The Raven Age. Jai is currently in Rio de Janeiro but has taken a break between shows to tell us a bit more about his musical journey.
“With a tour like this you think it's going to be the most amazing thing, but it really is much more. I knew it was going to be huge but you don't really get it until you experience something of this magnitude. Iron Maiden have their own plane and we are so lucky to be travelling on it too, not to mention the venues and the crowds which are huge! There are people waiting at airports and hotels and they even know who we are, not just Iron Maiden, which is surreal. Playing in stadiums is such an incredible feeling, I never thought or even dreamed of doing something like this.”
Jai started playing the drums for the Duke of Edinburgh Award when he was 14 but did not focus on them until he joined the school. “I got my first drum kit in November 2007. Two of my best friends both played the drums and they showed me the ropes which I picked up quite quickly.”
He also tells us how he became part of The Raven Age. “It's a pretty interesting story actually. I did a cover on the drums of a song called Dark Day by Parkway Drive on YouTube and it got a lot of views as it was one of the first drum covers online. Guitarists Dan and George of The Raven Age saw it and messaged me to ask if I wanted to join the band as they needed a drummer. I ended up visiting the studio and recording a song for them and the rest is history!”
The tour with Iron Maiden does not finish until August, and Jai is focused on ‘spreading the Raven’s wings’ and building their ever increasing fan base.
“We have our debut album coming out this year so we are very excited and we hope to support other acts on their tours and really build on the fan base we are currently generating around the world.”
During his time at Drayton Manor, he was part of a band called Fall From Within with fellow students who performed at various assemblies and received huge praise from staff and students. The band were also interviewed for a feature in the 2008-09 Phoenix magazine, which you can view by clicking here.
“My time at Drayton Manor was great! I was the only drummer on the music course and the school was very supportive. They bought a drum kit which I did my exams on and I was able to play my first concerts at assemblies and other school events. It is great that we have managed to keep in contact because I have a lot to thank Drayton Manor for. If it was not for my time there, I would not be living my dream right now.”
The school would like to congratulate Jai on his success and wish him the best of luck for the rest of the tour and for the future. We hope to welcome Jai back to the school one day to hear more about his musical journey.
(Friday 17 March 2017)
Former student Jai Patel has released his debut album ‘Darkness Will Rise’ with his band, The Raven Age. Jai was the Guest of Honour at our Awards Evening in November, and impressed the audience with a solo drum performance which acted as the finale to the evening.
The Raven Age were also recently awarded ‘Best New Band’ by Planet Rock at The Rocks Awards after going up against nine other bands. They are currently touring with metal icons Anthrax.
We would like to offer Jai and The Raven Age our warmest congratulations on their achievement.
Jai Patel was a student at Drayton Manor Sixth Form from 2007 until 2009 and is currently supporting rock legends Iron Maiden on their world tour with his band The Raven Age. Jai is currently in Rio de Janeiro but has taken a break between shows to tell us a bit more about his musical journey.
“With a tour like this you think it's going to be the most amazing thing, but it really is much more. I knew it was going to be huge but you don't really get it until you experience something of this magnitude. Iron Maiden have their own plane and we are so lucky to be travelling on it too, not to mention the venues and the crowds which are huge! There are people waiting at airports and hotels and they even know who we are, not just Iron Maiden, which is surreal. Playing in stadiums is such an incredible feeling, I never thought or even dreamed of doing something like this.”
Jai started playing the drums for the Duke of Edinburgh Award when he was 14 but did not focus on them until he joined the school. “I got my first drum kit in November 2007. Two of my best friends both played the drums and they showed me the ropes which I picked up quite quickly.”
He also tells us how he became part of The Raven Age. “It's a pretty interesting story actually. I did a cover on the drums of a song called Dark Day by Parkway Drive on YouTube and it got a lot of views as it was one of the first drum covers online. Guitarists Dan and George of The Raven Age saw it and messaged me to ask if I wanted to join the band as they needed a drummer. I ended up visiting the studio and recording a song for them and the rest is history!”
The tour with Iron Maiden does not finish until August, and Jai is focused on ‘spreading the Raven’s wings’ and building their ever increasing fan base.
“We have our debut album coming out this year so we are very excited and we hope to support other acts on their tours and really build on the fan base we are currently generating around the world.”
During his time at Drayton Manor, he was part of a band called Fall From Within with fellow students who performed at various assemblies and received huge praise from staff and students. The band were also interviewed for a feature in the 2008-09 Phoenix magazine, which you can view by clicking here.
“My time at Drayton Manor was great! I was the only drummer on the music course and the school was very supportive. They bought a drum kit which I did my exams on and I was able to play my first concerts at assemblies and other school events. It is great that we have managed to keep in contact because I have a lot to thank Drayton Manor for. If it was not for my time there, I would not be living my dream right now.”
The school would like to congratulate Jai on his success and wish him the best of luck for the rest of the tour and for the future. We hope to welcome Jai back to the school one day to hear more about his musical journey.
(Friday 17 March 2017)
Former student Jai Patel has released his debut album ‘Darkness Will Rise’ with his band, The Raven Age. Jai was the Guest of Honour at our Awards Evening in November, and impressed the audience with a solo drum performance which acted as the finale to the evening.
The Raven Age were also recently awarded ‘Best New Band’ by Planet Rock at The Rocks Awards after going up against nine other bands. They are currently touring with metal icons Anthrax.
We would like to offer Jai and The Raven Age our warmest congratulations on their achievement.
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THE DRAYTON CONNECTION
ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
13 May 25
THE DRAYTON CONNECTION
ALUMNI NEWSLETTER