Interview with Natasha Woolston-Banks (1994-2004)

1. Your full name (and last name at school, if different) and years at Surbiton High
Natasha Banks (newly married in September; Natasha Woolston-Banks) 

2. What are you doing now?
Working at Apple in marcom (Marketing & Communications) Europe  

3. What's a typical working day for you?
Scheduling events and working with the Operations Team to ensure smooth running of the department 

4. Have you ended up in the job you thought you'd be in when you were a teenager?
No! I thought I would be in Music Management!!!

5. What's the best/ worst/ most unusual thing about your job
Best: Working in such a fast paced environment with incredibly talented and passionate individuals. Worst: Apart from getting harassed for discounts on our products by friends and family, I love my job, there is nothing negative to say. However, being located in the centre of London’s shopping district creates a daily battle!!!!  

6. What would you say to Surbiton High pupils who are interested in a career in the Marketing and Communications?
Work experience is key, offer yourself out to different companies during the holiday period to experience day to day life in a variety of different companies - you will find that companies will have a very different approach!

7. What's your best/ funniest/ most vivid memory from school?
Too many to mention- the gym and dance display, school trips to Rome, America and Barbados were amazing, but one vivid memory that stands out was the ‘Molly King’ assembly where Molly had to stand up and give an assembly on what it was like being her. All she said was that she wanted to be a pop star to the horror of every teacher in the room. However it looks like she proved everyone wrong!

8. What was your favourite subject/ teacher/ classroom/ school trip etc?
My favourite subjects were English and Drama with Mrs Lawrence. The best teacher was definitely our form tutor Miss Kelsey :)  Best trip.. Barbados for the Netball & Hockey tour.. we had such a good time and even managed to win a Hockey match (despite the mind blowing temperatures we were most definitely not used to playing in).

9. How many school mates are you in touch with now?
Two of my bridesmaids at our wedding (Kate Charrington, now Kate Duxberry, and Victoria Beckett) were in my class at school. I also cross social paths with about 10 others girls from our school year.

10. What are you reading/ watching/ listening to at the moment? What was your favourite TV programme at school?
Watching - Broadchurch, it’s too tense!! Listening - about to schedule in some time to listen to Ed Sheehan’s new album Divide. Reading - What was your favourite TV programme at school? Oooh now thats asking.. I think I used to love Holby City, Casualty and Eastenders along with Cilla’s Blind Date! Reading- The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins).