After watching a handful of monologues from the My America series, I decided to write about “A.K.A” by Melanie Marnich. This monologue hooked me in because I found it to be really relatable. It starts off with the actress saying that she is Melanie Marnich, but at the same time, she is not Melanie Marnich. After going through chapters of her life, I learn what she means by this.

After learning about her parents being immigrants in the United States and the fact that her grandfather was “a tyrant who starved and beat his children”, we learn that her father changed his name and his attitude to live a better life. In other words, he tried to achieve what is known as, “the American dream.”

When asked about what is her America, she has the same response I do. Born and raised in America, an American, it feels odd and silly to answer the question. The path in which she took to answer this question, helped me answer it as well.

This monologue struck a chord with me because my parents moved to the United States about 20 years ago in hopes of providing a better future for me and my siblings. My America is my parents hard work, dreams, and aspirations.