It's not often you meet a young person who lives the kind of life Sierra does, even in a remote area of Montana. Sierra lives in the family home up Muddy Creek in the Wolf Mountains. The home has no electrical connection to the outside but has solar panels which provide some energy. In a pinch, Sierra's dad, Hymn (pronounced Hime) has a generator he hooks up for various needs.

The family's homestead is mostly self-sustaining, with two large gardens and an abundance of wild berry bushes nearby.

In tough winters and when the Muddy Creek Road is impassable, the family simply stays home. For Sierra, it has been a blessing. And it is one reason she is thinking about majoring in environmental science when she begins college this fall at Montana State University-Bozeman.

“Because of the way I have grown up,” Sierra observes, “I believe I have something to contribute to the field of environmental science. My parents have always made sure we take good care of our land.”

Who could argue with that kind of reasoning?

Sierra should have lots of personal anecdotes and environmental knowledge to contribute to her college classes. Imagine how startled her classmates will be when they learn she grew up without a television in her home!

She has greatly enjoyed her education at St. Labre. Her most recent favorite class was statistics, (dual credit high school and college) taught by Mr. Ed Sisolak.

“He taught as though it were a college class,” she says. “Now I kind of know what to expect from college teachers.”

She is also excited about the St. Labre Mentoring Program as well because the mentor, Dave Charpentier, will be visiting her campus on a regular basis to guide and support her and other students as they become accustomed to the college routine.

“Overall,” says Sierra, “St. Labre has provided me a very good education.”

We extend our best wishes to Sierra, as she begins the next phase of her educational journey. We trust it will be as interesting and unique as the one she is just finishing.

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