NDA graduate Clare Ravizza visited NDA this week to be interviewed by the Journalism I students.  Here are two different “takes” on the time spent with the Xavier senior.

Being involved in school is nothing new for NDA alum Clare Ravizza, Class of 2018.

“I felt very rooted on the campus. I was here early and stayed late,” said Ravizza about her time at NDA.

Ravizza was involved in yearbook, Model U.N, newspaper, Philosophy Club, Student Government and the Environmental Club, a club she helped organize and start.

During her time at NDA, Ravizza was also known by her last name, the same one she shared with Principal John Ravizza. Ravizza’s father was principal from 2008 to 2017, stepping down during her junior year. 

“It was difficult when I was a freshman, and I was self-conscious about it,” said Ravizza when being interviewed by the journalism class. “I drove to school with him, so everybody sort of knew who I was.”

Now a senior at Xavier University, she’s more involved than ever. She is the Co-Chair of the Student Sustainability Board and interns with the City of Office of Sustainability. 

Uncertain about her ultimate career path, Ravizza plans to spend a year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and indicated an interest in serving in the Northwest.

Ultimately Ravizza might follow in her family’s footsteps and continue the family tradition of teaching. 

“Academia is so competitive to get a job. It’s a lot of school for very little job security. It’s definitely something I’ve considered doing later in my life though,” she said. 

Besides school and teaching, Ravizza has a passion for social justice, specifically environmental justice. 

“I know that whatever work I do I want to incorporate social justice into it. I want my passions and hobbies to be incorporated into the work I do, not just as a side thing or something I do on the weekend,” said Ravizza. 

You can find past articles written by and featuring Ravizza that are still available on the Tritonian website.

                                                                                                                                           –Frannie Wied

Since graduating from Notre Dame Academy in 2018, Clare Ravizza has become an avid environmental activist.

While attending NDA, Ravizza founded the Environmental Club, which is still running today, and was involved in student government, acting as the vice president of outreach.

Now a senior at Xavier College in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ravizza is majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and the Public.

“It’s like fancy poli sci,” Ravizza shared. “I was really interested in studying politics with a particular interest in social justice.” 

She looks to become a political lobbyist in the future, working with government leaders to ensure environmental and social justice. 

“If our democracy is working right, our engagement with representatives has a direct impact on the policy put in place,” Ravizza explained.

Ravizza is an avid environmentalist; she believes climate change to be a foremost, imminent threat facing society and that the involvement of young people in such an issue is crucial. She implores like-minded youth to get involved in politics–to speak up for what’s right.

“I cannot emphasize enough how much people listen to those your age… our age,” said Ravizza. “Every meeting I’ve had with a representative, they’ve been impressed. They’re impressed that we’re paying attention at all.”

Ravizza believes that part of her passion for environmental activism derives from a love of hiking and sense of connection to nature, but the documentary Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret, truly piqued her interest in biospheric preservation.

“I was totally horrified,” she reflected. “I stopped eating meat. From then on I was sort of engaged in climatic stuff. I started to read and watch a lot of documentaries.” 

After graduation in May, Ravizza plans to work with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and indicated an interest in serving in the Northwest. 

Ravizza believes this upcoming year will be a year of decision for her, determining a career path while fighting for progress on the paramount issues of social equality and environmental reform.

“I can start to picture what my future will look like,” she said. “I want social justice to be integral to my work.”

Nonetheless, sometime in the future she would like to teach at the collegiate level, following in the footsteps of her mother, a leading professor at St. Norbert whose courses cover the crux of feminist theory, theology and religious studies. 

 –Cassi Garrison