News from SUNY Cortland

For more information contact: Jean Palmer, 607-753-2232

SUNY Cortland Student Develops Writing Skills During London Internship

CORTLAND, NY (02/22/2008; 1119)(readMedia)-- For SUNY Cortland professional writing major Philip Bolton Jr., the College’s Study Abroad Internship Program helped the aspiring journalist hone his writing skills with a fast-paced high tech business incubator in London, England.

His subsequent independent travel adventure through Europe was merely icing on the cake.

Bolton, a junior from Middleville, N.Y., interned with London Metropolitan University’s high-tech business incubator, Accelerator, from September to December.

At Accelerator, located in Shoreditch, the heart of London’s new media industry, Bolton worked under the marketing manager writing press releases and case studies about the small, new businesses Accelerator assists through providing technical support, researching grants and, in some cases, office space.

“It was a great opportunity to gain better writing skills, a better understanding of the work atmosphere, networking experience and to get an idea of what kind of writing I want to do,” Bolton said.

Along with honing his writing skills at Accelerator, Bolton also took three classes at London Metropolitan University as part of SUNY Cortland’s Study Abroad Internship Program. At the same time as Bolton, four other SUNY Cortland students were completing study abroad internships in Ireland.

“I became more comfortable writing,” Bolton explained. “I was able to use what I was learning in my journalism, creative prose and history of English classes practically working for Accelerator.”

Learning to write practically is what Bolton had to do from the day he arrived in London. Before leaving, he was offered an opportunity to write a freelance article for Sport magazine’s online publication, myfreesport.co.uk.

“The managing editor at Sport called me just before I left and offered me the opportunity to write,” Bolton said, “But my deadline was two days after I arrived in London. “On my second day in London I sat on my bed writing an article. It was exhilarating because I not only had to come up with a topic, but I had to think like I had been in London before. I ended up writing a piece about my experience training for triathlons that was featured on the Web site.”

One of Bolton’s best overseas experiences was the two-week European trip he took by himself, during which he met many people and engaged in numerous conversations.

“I only had $100 and a Euro pass to ride the trains for two weeks,” Bolton said, noting that he traveled to Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Greece, Switzerland and passed through other countries along the way. “One night I slept outside. I ate bread for one week and I didn’t shave the entire time. But, I wanted to do it so bad that I suppressed how scared I was. In a pub one night, I met a Serbian and an Iraqi and we had a really great conversation.”

“On one of the trains, I thought I was the only English-speaking person until I heard a woman’s voice,” Bolton explained. “She happened to be from Hawaii and we struck up a conversation, which led to her allowing me to stay with her when we arrived in Athens.

“The entire experience gave me new perspectives,” Bolton said. “My paradigm on the world shifted slightly.”

Bolton advises anyone who talks about doing an internship or traveling overseas to do it, especially someone interested in writing.

“The experience makes you adapt,” Bolton explained. “As a writer, it makes you see things from a different angle. The amount you learn from an experience like the one I had is irreplaceable. Personally, it also helped me learn how to engage in conversations with people better.”

Even after just three months, Bolton felt the change in himself and those around him when he returned home.

“I felt out of place when I came home,” Bolton said. “Nothing will ever be the same, but that shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing.”

After graduation, Bolton plans to pursue journalism in graduate school and continue his travels. His next destination is New Zealand.

For more information on study abroad internship opportunities, contact the SUNY Cortland International Programs Office at (607) 753-2209.

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Philip Bolton Jr., a SUNY Cortland undergraduate professional writing major, stands in the lobby of London Metropolitan University’s business incubator Accelerator.