Senior of the Week: Izzie Ricardi

By ANVI BHATE, LAUREN KIM, and LIANNA YANG

In the midst of the usual bustle and chatter of EPAC during a free block, cries to buy a crewneck sounded out. Led by the Feminist Union and Pro-Choice Club, this fundraiser selling ‘Feminist’ crewnecks was dedicated to raising funds for a non-profit healthcare organization that serves people of all genders, ages, and sexualities.

Among the loudest advocates for this cause was senior and Pro-Choice club founder Izzie Riccardi. Chatting with almost every student that stopped by, Riccardi’s optimistic attitude and dedication to her cause was infectious. Mirroring her personality in every facet of her life, Riccardi’s passion for things she loved and kindness was evident to anyone passing by.

Besides serving a key role in the Academy’s feminist organisations, Riccardi is also co-captain of the girls’ varsity crew team, a sport whose practices and community make up majority of her time at the Academy. Beyond crew, Riccardi is a day student proctor in Amen Hall and enjoys singing with acapella groups in her free time.

Hailing from Newburyport, Massachusetts, Riccardi came to the Academy as a new lower. There, Riccardi had gone to public school her entire life with the same 200 kids in her class. “I was really looking for more perspective, as well as a more academically rigorous environment,” Riccardi said, describing the reasons for her initial interest in Exeter. “I toured Exeter and absolutely loved it. I’m so glad I made the decision to come here. It has not let down my expectations of how hard the coursework was.”

“Coming into this was very much an academic focus. I thought it was going to be hard, and that would be my main drive here,” Riccardi said about her mindset coming into Exeter. Describing how her perspective has shifted through her time here, Riccardi spoke about how, senior year more than ever, everyone in her classes is actually interested in what they’re learning. “Now, the teachers are facilitating this open conversation, and it’s less of just textbook learning like a public school environment, and more of ‘the discussion can go wherever it wants to.’”

In addition to a new appreciation of learning, Riccardi has grown into a different mindset about failure. “I think coming into this I had a very perfectionist mentality. And I think because of that, I was scared of new things, out of this fear that I might fail if I try something new,” she said. “But it feels even better when you do fail and when you just keep bouncing back. When you finally do hit that one success, it feels like the best thing in the world. It feels like you deserved it and you earned it and you learned so much from the experience, not just the final result,” she described.

Senior Abegail Byun reflected on this shift in Riccardi’s confidence over the years, and her strong leadership roles in different communities. “She’s become more comfortable in herself and more confident in the communities that she’s a part of. And through her newfound confidence, I think she’s been able to make a big impact and be a leader in different spaces on campus,” said Byun.

Riccardi credits her peers for uplifting her mentality, and inspiring her throughout her time here. “I wouldn’t be able to get where I was without the people around me. Everyone’s working so hard, and everyone’s giving their all to things that they’re passionate about. And, to see that all come together and get to know people that are doing activities, was totally different for me. I still appreciate all the effort they put into their work and all the amazing things they’re doing as well.”

One of the biggest parts of her Exeter experience that helps enforce Riccardi’s positive mentality is rowing. Riccardi is fairly new to the sport, only starting lower spring after previously devoting most of her athletic focus to soccer. Besides the physical act of rowing, the community — both the team and the coaches— was a big reason she grew to love it, so much so that she intends to do it in college, at Cornell University. “It was so amazing to just go in the water for two or three hours every day. You just focus on what you’re doing. You just focus on the people around you. This feeling that you’re giving your all every single day and coming back better for this group of girls, and they’re doing the exact same for you, is just amazing. I’m so glad that I’ve been able to be part of that community.”

“The biggest thing that crew has taught me is that it isn’t linear. It hasn’t always been an upward slope,” Riccardi said, explaining some of the challenges she has faced during her experiences in the sport. “Rowing really humbled me in many ways because I wasn’t one of those people that was naturally good at it. I’d have times where I would literally fail two or three days in a row before I finally got a PR,” she said. “But it also taught me how to be confident in the ability and the strength that I’m putting in and just keep going; and trust the process, trust my coaches, trust my teammates that it will all eventually work out.”

Fellow girls’ varsity crew captain and senior Kate Nixon described Riccardi’s uplifting attitude on the crew team.

“She’s a captain with me in the spring crew season, and that’s probably one of the things that she’s most involved in. She’s such a leader on the team and a lot of the younger kids look up to her. She’s incredibly hard working, but also makes it a positive and welcoming environment, which is huge because that’s what really made me stick with Crew when I was younger,” said Nixon.

“I’m so proud of Izzie because I think she fully embodies those caring, positive, and amazing leadership qualities that I saw when I was younger,” reflected Nixon.

Senior and crew teammate Cindy Su agreed, recounting some of her favorite crew memories with Riccardi and commending her teamwork.

“Every single time I talk to her, she is always smiling and just brings such good positive energy to the team. That’s where Izzie really shines; she’s such a good team player and just an incredible person to be around,” said Su.

“My favorite memories with her usually center around the boathouse. All of the amazing times that we’ve spent together, whether that be getting up really early for morning practice at 6:00 AM or playing One K Pieces after our row in the spring,” said Su.

Former girls’ varsity crew captain and alumnus ‘22 Charlotte Pulkinnen agreed on Riccardi’s welcoming presence around campus. “She’s generally just one of the nicest and funniest people at Exeter. Every person you meet at Exeter will both know Izzie and immediately share a good experience with her”

Pulkinnen continued, “she made rowing such a positive environment and although she was only a junior last year, she served as a huge role model for the younger girls. I’m super excited she’ll be captain of the team this year and so proud of everything she’s done both for the team.”

Riccardi also reminisced on these early morning practices, referring to them as some of her favorite memories at the Academy. “It was so difficult to wake up at 5:30. But those are also so fun because it would be when the sun was rising over the river and after we go to stop at Saint Anthony’s. Surprisingly enough, though you’re exhausted in the moment, you feel so energized after. So, I always felt so ready for my classes,” Riccardi described.

Outside of rowing and early morning practices, Su admires Riccardi’s involvement in clubs, and her ability to stand up for her beliefs.

“She’s someone who really stands up for what she believes in. She’s involved in legal society as well as Pro-Choice Club. And those two clubs really summarize her fighting spirit and how she’s always ready to stand up for what she believes in and voice her opinion,” said Cindy.

As founder and co-head of the club, along with senior Kate Nixon, Riccardi has made a lot of impact in the feminist and general communities at the Academy, raising awareness and funds for these causes. Elaborating on how she decided to form it, Riccardi said, “It was during pre-season, coming off of everything that happened in Texas… and I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. It was so frustrating and I feel like it wasn’t being talked about while on campus. Ms. Carbonell agreed to be our club advisor and we talked more about what we could do as a group and how helpful that would be.”

Riccardi described the club’s first large fundraiser, which, organized along with Feminist Club, consisted of selling ‘Feminist’ sweatshirts to the student body. “We use those donations to make an effect in the community by donating to a reproductive healthcare organization in the area, which is nice to smaller businesses,” Riccardi said. “So to make that direct impact and see all these people coming in from different clubs and different backgrounds, and really just helping volunteer at the booth or making designs was amazing. It was so fun and so inspiring to see how many people’s different talents could come together to help this one thing.”

“Especially now, with everything that went down this summer with Roe v. Wade being overturned, it’s a lot. But it’s also so reassuring that we have all these newer students and potential for the future, and all these people that are dedicated to the cause,” Riccardi commented. “It’s really making this big, overwhelming thing seem a lot more comforting, and to have those people to have these conversations with is really wonderful.”

Senior Gracie Keyt spoke on Riccardi’s presence in the campus clubs, saying, “Izzie’s [got] a very infectious personality. Not only is she super involved and committed in clubs, sports, and extracurriculars, but she’s the sort of person that everybody likes to be around. Her presence is felt wherever she is…she really does wanna make an impact even if it’s just on a high school level.”

Pro-Choice Club cohead and upper Syliva Langer recalled Riccardi’s invaluable contributions to the fundraiser. “I really liked the fundraiser we did with Feminist Union and Pro-Choice Club last year. We both volunteered and it was just a really fun experience to get to volunteer with her…She always finds an opportunity to not only promote the club, but also connect with people. Through the fundraiser, she was able to help Pro-Choice Club grow a lot because she was able to come up to anybody and get to know them,” said Langer.

Langer continued, admiring Riccardi’s leadership in creating a new club. “In terms of Pro-Choice Club, she just started it last year and it wasn’t approved at first, but she ended up getting it approved midway through the year. I think it’s super admirable how she started in the middle of the year and really fought for the cause,” said Langer.

Riccardi’s uplifting attitude extends far beyond the crew team and clubs. Whether it be saying hello on the paths or chatting in the dining hall, Riccardi spreads humor and positivity wherever she goes. “She genuinely says hi to everybody on the path. She’s the sort of person that has made everybody’s lives just a little bit better. That’s the legacy that she leaves beyond clubs and activities like that,” said Keyt.

Upper Pippa Pflaum adds on about her and Riccardi’s daily interactions. “She would just always smile and wave to me on the path. That speaks to her friendliness and outgoing nature…She is open to meeting people and likes making new friends, which makes the Exeter community more inviting. She’s very welcoming,” said Pflaum.“If I’m ever in D-Hall and I see Izzie, I know I can just go up and pull the chair and it’s always like a good time and I’m always welcome.”

Recounting Riccardi’s presence on and off the team, Su said, “Izzie is gonna be someone that everyone thinks about and will miss dearly. I feel like she lights up a room every time she walks in because she’s so wonderful. Whenever I see her, I just feel happier because I know that whatever she’s going to say or how she interacts with her world is just so positive. And I think that’s like the legacy that she leaves behind: being probably one of the most impactful and wonderful people you could be around.”

Having known Riccardi for three years, Nixon recalled some of her favorite memories such as “when she spends time in my room lying on my floor. It’s some of the funniest stuff I’ve ever heard just by being in her presence. Also, the spring season specifically with Izzie is so much fun. Pre-season last year was a blast and I’ll never forget the little minion she got in the Florida Airport.”

As for advice she would give to younger Exonians, Riccardi advised them to take advantage of Exeter’s opportunities, extracurriculars, and community. “Don’t be afraid to fail. If you think the club is interesting, literally just go to one meeting. If it doesn’t work out you can drop it. But, just try everything you can and don’t be afraid to go into something. Don’t have the reason to be that you don’t experience something is because you’re too scared to try it and you’re sure that it doesn’t work out,” Riccardi said.

“The same also goes for people who you don’t necessarily think of for you to be friends with. Go sit in Grill with them one day or say hello to them on the paths. Honestly, I’ve made so many friendships that way and have been able to talk with and learn from the experience of so many people from so many different backgrounds and different interests,” she continued.

Nixon describes Riccardi’s lasting impact on the Academy community. “I think her legacy is that you can excel at Exeter and succeed, while also lifting up everyone around you and being supportive of everyone around you. She proves that you can excel at Exeter while also lifting people around you up.”

“I just want everyone to know how proud of her I am and platonically she is the love of my life. I am incredibly grateful that our paths crossed. I hope that I continue to be incredibly close friends with her for the rest of my life,” said Nixon. “And I am so, so sad that we unfortunately are going to be essentially across the country for each other next year. But I know that is not going to stop us from being best friends. I know that she’s going to excel wherever she goes after Exeter.”