A Student's Final Reflection on WRI-2300: Experimental Writing (Why You Need to Take This Class)

I want to start my reflection with a story of where my mind was at the beginning of the semester. This was my final semester at Centenary, and truth be told, I found myself under the illusion that I had already seen and known all that this college could offer me as a student. With just three professors (Professors Mendres, Professor Del Re, and Professor Gavrilovic, who also is my advisor) shaping my educational journey, I entered the semester with a sense of familiarity, an urge to finish, and move on to my career, and perhaps even a touch of complacency.

Professor Gavrilovic informed me that I had to take this course (WRI-2300) to graduate, and I tried my best to go in with an open mind, but I sneered at the thought of having to take an English class for my final semester. 

At the local theater where I am a trainer, I work with several other students or alumni of Centenary and started asking around if they knew anything about a “Professor Zatta.” A close coworker of mine named Lauren Anderson informed me that Professor Zatta was one of the best professors she had in time at Centenary. Lauren explained that Professor Zatta is known around campus as “Professor mom.” This conversation made me feel a lot better about taking the class, but I still was not fully sold on the idea of a course named “WRI-2300: Experiential Writing” that no one seemed to have heard of or taken before.

Little did I realize that the introduction to WRI-2300 would shatter those preconceived notions, revealing unexplored passions of learning, writing, and journalism that I had no idea were in me. The Cyclone Chronicle would redefine my understanding of what Centenary had to offer in my concluding chapter as a student.

From the very outset when our class met deep in the dwellings of the University archives, Professor Zatta’s unwavering commitment to both the course and the newspaper initiative ignited a spark within me. 

The initial reservations I harbored quickly transformed into genuine excitement each week, witnessing the passion and dedication that characterized the class. Watching students who had Professor Zatta previously, like Eve Foote and Marsali Endrizzi, and who have such high admiration and respect for Professor Zatta, highlighted her well-intentioned ferocity and command as the overseer of the rebirthed student newspaper.

By the semester’s end, this obligatory addition to my schedule would evolve into my favorite class that I have taken at Centenary. For the first time in two years, I wished that a class would not end. 

The journey not only enriched my understanding of journalism but also led me to forge meaningful connections and friendships with fellow classmates and faculty that will surely continue after my graduation. One of my favorite examples of this was our class field trip to visit with Professor Coco and explore his art exhibit. I vividly remember listening to him talk to us with such vibrance and charisma.

I wanted to know more about this Professor (Professor Coco) whom I had never experienced at Centenary. At one point during his talk, I leaned over to Joe Hamway, my fellow WRI-2300 classmate, and said something like, “This guy should be teaching at Harvard or Princeton.” 

I was so amazed by his ability to communicate with us. His intense eye contact with us was like a predatory animal meticulously stalking its prey, each gaze penetrating and dissecting our minds of what we were all thinking with an uncanny precision while he shared stories of his adventures in Italy.

There was a sincere sense of investment in each of us from Professor Coco, even though he had just met all of us. I will never forget his story about the power of self-belief and needing to take that one small step to get yourself “in the door.” He explained you never know what will happen if you take that chance.

Another highlight of many this semester was the House of White Spiders screening. The experience was exhilarating, as I could interact with the director and stars of the movie while we all watched a film shot in Hackettstown. 

It was such a unique opportunity, and being there with two other WRI-2300 students, Troy Sumpter and Kayla Diee, added a sense of unity as we were journalists for the student newspaper together at an event. As someone who has a love of cinema and wants to work in that industry, the entire event was one I will forever value as I start my professional career.

I also learned to appreciate things I never thought I would discover in an English class. The use of Google Drive, for example, with its collaborative features and seamless organization capabilities, served as an unsung hero of Experiential Writing. The platform’s ability to facilitate real-time collaboration allowed us to work seamlessly. Articles, photos, and drafts effortlessly floated between students, and the entire process of newspaper production became not only efficient but also inherently interconnected. Without the Drive, the entire class would have been completely different.

My transformation from skepticism to genuine enthusiasm is a testament to the incredible offerings from Centenary that I never knew existed, and Professor Zatta is a large part of that very success. Her class is proof that the most meaningful and impactful college experiences can emerge from the most unexpected endeavors. 

In my often roller coaster ride of college experience, WRI-2300 stands out as a vibrant thread that has woven practical application, real-world solutions, and, of course, journalism into the fabric of my Centenary education. I am profoundly thankful for the lasting impact WRI-2300 has imprinted on me during my time at Centenary. This class has been a blessing that I will cherish and value for the rest of my life.