Posted
When MINGYANG “FRANK” WANG ‘16 arrived at Lancaster Mennonite in August 2012, he was a 13-year-old stepping onto U.S. soil—and outside of China—for the first time. The dorm became his first home away from home, and his earliest LM friendships began there.
“My earliest friendships in the dorm, like the one with ZHENGCHENG LI ‘15, gave me a sense of belonging and stability when everything around me was unfamiliar.” Zhengcheng, a sophomore transfer from Shanghai, was known for his tech skills, love of gaming, and deep knowledge of world history that sparked great conversations. The two still keep in touch more than a decade later.
Some of Frank’s most formative experiences came from an unexpected place—running cross-country. “The team became my bridge to others. Running side by side with teammates from different backgrounds, united by the same goal, dissolved those invisible walls. In every practice, every race, and every shared moment of exhaustion transcended culture. Cross-country taught me more than how to run—it taught me how to push past limits, connect across differences, and find common ground in shared effort. Those lessons have stayed with me long after the races ended.”
Over the years, Frank has maintained LM friendships in surprising ways. He and ALEX MALAVE ‘16, who met on their first day at LM, later attended Franklin & Marshall College together and years later found themselves living in the same city—Durham, North Carolina—while Frank was earning his master’s at Duke University and Alex was working there. Another lasting bond is with QIAODAN LOU ‘16, a fellow member of LM’s Chinese international freshmen when he started, with whom he volunteered with teaching English in Guizhou, China. “Instagram has been one of my main tools for staying connected with friends over the years,” he shares.
Now ESG Manager at Norin Mining in Beijing, Frank credits LM’s multicultural environment for broadening his worldview and preparing him to work with diverse communities. “In many ways, my LMH friendships taught me how to listen with empathy, respect different worldviews, and collaborate toward shared goals—skills I carry with me in both my professional and personal life.”
His advice to students: be open, intentional, and step outside your comfort zone—friendships formed here can last far beyond graduation.
