Manassas Park Teen Shows Maturity Beyond Years

Editor's Note: This is part two in this week's five-part series on Manassas Park High School seniors who will graduate on June 11. On Wednesday, we will run a feature story on another senior.

Imagine you are a teenager who has traveled alone across the globe to a country whose political system, economic structure, language and religious tolerances are far different from that of your native land. Imagine you are Li Peng.

 Peng, now 19,  is a high school senior at Manassas Park High School.

He left his parents behind in the city Chong Qing China more than two years ago and traveled alone to pursue a better life in the U.S., Peng said.

 “I was looking for better education. I think that’s the only reason. I have a lot of chances here,” he said.

 He now resides with a friend in Manassas Park, Peng said.

 In China, he would have already graduated because high school there is only three years, he said.

 The teen said he is enjoying his last weeks of school, but can remember a time when school was a frightening place for him.

 “I was kind of scared. I didn’t speak English at all, two years ago when I got here,” he said. “I mean, I just learned. I try my best.”

 He is learning much of the same things in his classes here as he learned in China, but the English language continues to be difficult for Peng.

 “ … the English has really been challenging for me, I mean my first language is Chinese,” Peng said. “... I think compared with Chinese high school it is easier. You have a lot of time after school to do what you like. I play piano for choir and I play percussion for a funk band.”

  After graduation, Peng said will attend George Mason University. Unlike many teens his age, he has no desire to live on campus, but will commute to his classes.

 He will major in legal studies, a part of the pre-law program.

 “I’m not sure right now, what kind of lawyer I want to be. I want to take the courses and then I will make my decision,” he said.  “I expect college is much harder than high school. I’m pretty sure about that.”

 Though he has college to look forward to, Peng said he is a little sad about leaving Manassas Park High.

 “I’m going to miss my high school. I’m going to be sad, but I’m going to be moving on,” he said.

 His father was to fly in from China for his graduation, but now he isn’t able to do so, Peng said.

“I do miss them, that’s why I’m going to China during the summer,” he said. “ I haven’t seen my parents  for three years… but I’m a guy, I’m not a girl, so I can handle this. ”

 Peng said he talks to his family in China each day and hopes that one day they, too, can come to the United States for good.

 Until then he is determined to be independent.

“I have to take care of myself,” he said. “Then I can take care of my parents.”