MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- There are many things required of a Marine, from performing their military occupational specialty to maintaining their combat readiness. The same can be said about being a mother and wife, as there are many things that a wife and a mother must do to maintain their family. Anyone of them could be a full time job and most would find balancing the two an enormous task.
For Lance Cpl. Christiana Fowlkes, juggling the three is just ordinary life.
Fowlkes’ job is to keep an up to date, detailed roster of everyone in the company as a database clerk for Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. She also helps maintain the barracks, which includes assigning rooms, issuing linen and handling maintenance requests.
For the East Haven, Conn., native this is only half the day. She also goes home to a family she must care for each day.
“After work I go home and make dinner,” Fowlkes explained. “I bath and feed my son, and then I spend time with my husband.”
The 22-year-old is used to working hard. While attending East Haven High School from 1998 to 2001, she ran track for the school’s team.
In addition to this she was an avid member in her church community.
“I sang in my church’s choir,” Fowlkes said. “I also taught Sunday school and was a youth leader for the church.”
Fowlkes attended Long Island University, majoring in education following high school. Due to financial struggles she was forced to quit after one semester.
After coming home and working for a few months she decided that she needed change in here life.
“My life was boring,” Fowlkes explained. “I needed goals, and I needed excitement. This is exactly what the Marine Corps is giving me.”
Fowlkes believes that past experience in her life and lessons taught through the Marine Corps have prepared her for life and all its struggles.
“The Marine Corps gives you so much responsibility,” Fowlkes explained. “It teaches you how to run with a full plate and still keep balance.”
Fowlkes also has a few things to say for anyone preparing to go through a similar situation.
“Never bring your work home with you,” Fowlkes said. “You might end up taking out your frustrations on your family. Try to find a balance between work and home and keep it.”
Fowlkes is scheduled to deploy to Iraq where she will be separated from her husband and son possibly for a year.
“I’m just ready to go,” Fowlkes said. “I will do my job and then I can get back here and see my family.”
Fowlkes draws strength from her husband and son.
“My husband has a lot of concerns, but he knows what I do and supports me,” Fowlkes said. “He and my son give me strength.”
Fowlkes doesn’t know if she will stay in at the end of her enlistment or not. Either way she plans on going back to college to resume majoring in education.