Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Monica Morkos. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Monica , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents split when I was really young. Surprisingly, despite the challenges, my mom never really brought up the whole “what do you want to be when you grow up” talk with me and my brother. Instead, she focused on making our lives feel as normal as possible. She played both parenting roles for years, working hard to give us a stable life.

My mom, originally from Egypt, got her degree in chemistry. To practice chemistry in the U.S., she had to go to university classes and pass exams. Balancing work and school, she made sure we had a routine—school, study time, and then I could play outside till the streetlights came on. That routine created a structured and disciplined home.

In Middle Eastern culture, there’s often an expectation for children to pursue careers in medicine or law. But my mom, focused on keeping our lives on track, didn’t pay much attention to that. It seemed like she aimed to be her best so that we could survive on her accomplishments. After that, I don’t believe she gave much thought to actively pushing us toward high-quality careers, she just wanted us to have stability at the time. I can’t remember ever seeing her struggle; she always had a smile on her face. As an adult, I can only imagine how many times she must have held back tears to make it seem like everything was fine.
Growing up, I loved doing artsy stuff like coloring, painting, and even turning potato chip bags into bedroom decor. Of course, my mom wouldn’t let me hang up posters of Britney Spears or Justin Timberlake. Looking back, I realize it was her way of protecting us from certain influences—negative people, harmful places, and societal norms that could mess with our heads. Even though we got annoyed with her rules, she stood firm, protecting our hearts and minds.

My mom wasn’t about hoping for the best for us—she was all about making it happen, no matter what it took. Her actions taught me that sitting around achieves nothing. I’ve always been the kind to take the first step, a risk-taker, problem-solver, forward-thinker, and kind, caring, and sensitive—all attributes inherited from my mom. So when I think about what my mom did right, it all comes down to her trust in God, the sacrifices she made, and the foundation she built—a foundation grounded in faith and discipline, and just simply trying. Her influence shaped my career and character, instilling a strong work ethic and an unwavering pursuit of excellence.

In contrast, my dad embodies a free-spirited approach to parenting. He owned a store on Washington Ave in South Beach, Miami, FL for over 30 years. Throughout that period, I observed his interactions with individuals from diverse backgrounds—always genuinely kind and inherently curious, eager to learn about people’s stories. There were vintage wedding dresses in the store, and I would often playfully wear them and pose like a mannequin in the storefront for extended periods.

My dad allowed me the liberty to wander along Washington Avenue, talking to homeless individuals, buying them dollar burgers from McDonald’s, and spending my other dollar on sesame seed cookies from a bakery next door. While he granted us the freedom to live freely, he discreetly kept a watchful eye, ensuring our safety without us realizing. When I think about what my dad did right, his laid-back parenting style cultivated in me a sense of independence, expressiveness, confidence, and decision-making abilities from a really young age.

Looking back on it all, reflecting on my upbringing, the combination of my parents’ distinct parenting styles has shaped who I am today. My mom’s dedication to discipline and my dad’s free-spirited approach created a balanced foundation that allowed me to cultivate independence, resilience, and a unique blend of creativity and responsibility. As a result, my brother excels as a senior electrical engineer and project manager, while I navigate the world of instructional design and project management. Together, we carry forward the enduring legacy of their influence.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My family are my best friends. We’ve got this ongoing joke—making everyday stuff seem ordinary, whether it’s good, bad, or somewhere in between. It’s our way of keeping things positive and moving forward. Now, in the kitchen, that’s my haven. There’s a running joke—I might feed everyone just so I can be the “skinnier-than-you” chef. Strange, right?

Me? Well, I’m a bit of a contradiction. On weekdays, I like having things under control. But come the weekend, it’s all about spontaneity—no plans, just a small backpack, maybe a last-minute flight, and strolling through a city with friends, seeing where the day takes us. And in my head, it’s a mix. Sometimes I’m lost in thought, and other times knee-deep in some cool discoveries that might end up in research papers. Long story short—I will keep you on your toes.

By day, I’m an instructional designer, transforming educational content into interactive e-learning material— video games, online courses, training material, and more. Boosting comprehension and retention through engaging and motivating adult-learning theory approaches.

My first dive into online learning happened during my days as a speech and language pathologist. I specialized in treating communication disorders, and what set me apart is my ability to create natural language acquisition moments even in seemingly unnatural settings, like a computer. Realizing that this skill wasn’t often used in educational technology, I saw a chance to offer a fresh perspective.

I’m on a mission to tackle a pressing issue: the shortage of healthcare workers in the United States. My current endeavor involves developing and designing a unique online nursing preparation program aimed at elevating the pass rate of the NCLEX nursing exam. Crafting engaging and enjoyable online learning experiences is the key. This approach aims to not only boost learning outcomes and pass rates but will open the door for thousands of international nurses to join the healthcare system in the United States and make meaningful contributions.

What makes me stand out, even from someone like superwoman, is that I don’t need a superhero cape for my everyday grind. I enjoy being the support for everyone and everything, even when I’m tired. But being tired never stops me from caring enough to just keep going.

What I’m most proud of is my journey—it’s truly better than the destination. I went from treating patients on a 1:1 basis to teaching thousands of nurses, who will treat thousands of patients. The unexpected plot twists and unexpected turns in both my personal and professional life were crucial for me to reach where I am today. Without them, I probably wouldn’t be here.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Adiós, golden rule! “Treat others how you would want to be treated” isn’t always the smartest move. If I set high standards for myself and impose them on someone with different expectations, it can make them feel inadequate. The same goes for trying to force compatibility in friendships or relationships—it just doesn’t work. I gave the golden rule the boot later in life, recognizing that projecting how I prefer people to hold me accountable or make me feel a sense of responsibility may not be how someone else wants to be dealt with.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The driving force behind my creative journey is the belief that crafting exceptional e-learning material makes the content unforgettable—that’s the goal. I don’t want people just to recall what they read but remember how they experienced it. To know that dense information that is intimidating can be masked by a really fun, engaging, and interactive video game, or that bland material can be re-sourced and revamped completely, to give a better experience than the original.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: monidines