Projects
Vacations become your new inspiration.
Act now to help others
Speak up for what you believe in.
Never let fear hold you back from your dreams.
Jamaica Immersion Trip 2018
I have always had a deep desire to live a life that was more than just living for myself. My experience with Rockhurst University allowed me to emerge my life for a week and root myself into the culture of the Jamaican people. Here, is where I began to see how impactful a single individual can be to an entire community when one truly learns how to connect themselves to the present moment. Doing so allows this form of energy to run through your veins to the point where you never grow tired or weary.
"Let nature reflect the best of you"
-Rebecca Izquierdo
Vernacular Project
My grandfather always insisted that I was going to become the next Miss America every year because of my stride toward achieving world peace in this lifetime. While world peace is a vague goal when viewing it from a broad perspective, it is an achievable one when practicing peace in your everyday being.
I have had many glimpses of this universal harmony in my own life by connecting with nature, cultures, and people. My hope is to share my findings to help others achieve tranquility, whether that be for a second or a lifetime.
This letter acts as my attempt to understand the indigenous tribe of the Navajo people. To grasp a comprehension, I had to dig into their past and seek their language.
After putting together this letter, I felt both hopeless and inspired. Hopeless because all I could do is acknowledge and salute a nation for their bravery to live on. Inspired because I know as I continue to grow, I want help in any way I can provide my services. The indigenous deserve everlasting peace, otherwise, my grandfather's words would amount to nothing.
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Dear those whose land this country falsely rests on,
YÁNISIN
I am embarrassed for the materialistic world our nation has come to.
T’ÁÁ ANÍÍ ÁSHT’Í
I am guilty of being ignorant to your situation at hand.
T’ÁÁ ANÍÍ ÁSHT’Í
I am guilty of cheering for the Chiefs when they won in my homeland.
SHÁHÁCH,Í
I am angry with my privilege, that it has allowed to me to overlook your culture for twenty-two years
SHÁHÁCH,Í
I am angry we keep viewing you like birds, because we keep running our mouth this does not mean you have to keep flying south.
But TSíDíí you are
Your people are the birds in our sky, concentrating on mother nature's cries while people in suburbia have more than enough supplies… to go around.
DOO SHILÀTS’Í,Í DA
I AM SAD because every time I read about a new consultation America finds a way to make another violation.
Allow me to shine some light on some affairs.
From 1778 we divided you to make you think you were your own independent nation.
Oh, sweethearts, all we did was deprive you of a real education.
In 1795, The Treaty of Greeneville made you think there was hope in a resolution
But still, we had bigger plans for a daunting revolution.
Let us not forget about ol Jackson now and how he implemented the Indian Removal Act.
Once again proving to us all how the white man still needs to be smacked.
And this is why I write this letter, because I look up to you. You are a nation so strong-willed, humbling the rest of us because our hearts are so constantly chilled.
There are over 500 treaties that have been broken, so please excuse me if I am being too outspoken.
Lichíí’ Lichíí’ Lichíí’
RED RED RED everywhere is what my history teachers failed to tell me in my school.
That the Trail of Tears transformed into years of a Trail of never-ending Fears.
From my understanding, the definition of a reservation has a common correlation to the word Damnation.
A prison sentence where there is no hope in receiving bail.
DRUGS
ALCOHOL
ABUSE
OPPRESSION
They are all magnified in your cultures and we, America, are your vultures.
A third world country trapped in our first World Country
But yet,
SHIL CHOHOO’,Í
I am hopeful when we do meet, that I will listen to you battle cry.
SHIL CHOHOO’,Í
I am hopeful that when we do meet, that I will never lie
And still,
BÍNEESH’Á, NISIN
I am confident you will live on!
BÍNEESH’Á, NISIN
I am confident you will prevail!
Love,
A misunderstood girl who is trying to make this nation fit into a better-understood world.
- Rebecca Izquierdo
Fear Is Worth a 1,000 Words
It amazes me how we allow a nest of emotions keep us from achieving our higher selves. If there is one word to describe such emotions, it would be fear.
Fear can come in various shapes and forms, such as anxiety, worry, and my personal favorite depression. It can be completely overwhelming that it can make one physically and mentally sick. But besides the cluster fucks of emotions that shake me awake at night, what is fear?
Well, I’ll tell you, it is that moment when you are standing in front of a crowd and you can’t help notice that your heart seems to be racing as fast as lightning can strike. Or better yet, it is that churning feeling you get in your stomach right before you are about to perform the routine of a lifetime. Fear can also be present the moment you find out one of the greatest souls you have come to know is dying of leukemia. It is definitely your best friend when you witness abuse to the ones you love and you can not find words or actions to stop it because in your head you are weak. If you are even remotely as lucky as I am it can come to you in your dreams and give you a special gift called sleep paralysis. It can feel as if you are falling into this endless pit. But what I dislike most about fear, is it can make us less than what we know we are. It’s that voice at the gym that whispers “ well, that guy is definitely compensating for something”, meanwhile we are contemplating on everything.
We CAN NOT give fear that power. All fear is and ever will be is holding ourselves back from the unknown. Instead, why don’t we replace fear with something familiar, COURAGE?
When we allow ourselves to be courageous enough to step into the unknown, then will we find our peace. So, instead of listening to that voice, replace it with something superior and rack up those weights to better yourself. Rather than worrying about what is at the end of your destination, ride it out; enjoy every second of your flight. When the nightmares hit, search for a new storyline, one full of happiness and light. Most importantly never forget to stand up for your friends and family who are consumed by fear; acknowledge each difficulty. Do not let your battles end in defeat. When those lights come on and music begins to play, you know every step will be from your heart if you allow yourself to be taken away by your higher self. The moment you accept defeat’s friend request is when you will be defeated. So please remember, when your heart feels as if 1,000 lightning volts have struck home, it is never too late to change the outcome. Your attitude in life can lead to the greatest revolution. Let’s fill ourselves with courage rather than that four-letter meaningless word.
- Rebecca Izquierdo
