February Member Spotlight: Sapphire Carter

What do you do for work/free time?

Currently serving as an AmeriCorps member for Montana Legal Services Association. My duties include supporting the Indian Law Practice Group attorney by conducting intake applications, drafting motions and managing the Indian Wills project.

For fun I enjoy running, discussing philosophy and politics, watching movies at the Myrna Loy, drawing, and exploring new places. I am also trying to get back into beading and sewing.

How did you land in Helena?

Originally from the Rocky Boy's Reservation, I moved to Helena to study at Carroll College. After graduating in 2016, I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Indonesia teaching English in an Islamic high school. Last Spring, I decided to apply for the AmeriCorps Justice for Montanans program because of my interests in American Indian Law. The program accepted me leading me back here to Helena.

What is the best piece of advice that you ever received – career-related or otherwise?

The best career advice I have ever received was from my former professor Dr. Pratt. Sitting in his office one day my freshman year of college, he let me know that it's okay to not know what you want to do when you "grow up". He reassured me by stating people on average change their careers at least four times in a life time. Before our conversation, I thought that I needed to have everything figured out within a certain arbitrary time limit. Now I focus more on the skills I want to attain through my experiences versus following some neat career path.

When do you feel the most yourself?

A few weeks ago, I went home to Rocky Boy to spend time with family. During that trip, my parents, brother and I watched the Chiefs vs. Titans game together while simultaneously chowing down, laughing, and arguing about politics, history and life. When I am with them I feel not only like my most nitty gritty self, but also accepted and loved.

Where is the last place you explored and where do you want to explore next?

Last summer I hopped around Southeast Asia in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. It was a long month gorging on delicious foods, walking miles through temple mazes and learning. Highly recommend the Vietnamese Women's Museum in Hanoi. An immensely informative exhibition on the history of women's empowerment was held at the time I went. I am unable to forget the powerful stories shared by the Vietnamese women featured in the exhibit.

There are too many places that I want to see in the world.

Some adventures I have in mind... A friend and I have a plan to visit all the breweries in the state this year. I want to hike the Kootenai Falls trail sometime. Will also be returning to Indonesia in the Spring with my parents to show them my school and village and celebrate the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitri with my host family. Afterwards, relax in Bali for a few days. Hopefully this summer I will finally go to the Santa Fe Indian market as well.

Tell us something about yourself that we didn’t ask:

Don't shoot me for being a native Montanan who has never skied before.