Jingyi Luna Peng of New York City on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Jingyi Luna Peng shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Jingyi Luna, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Coffee, work, cooking, writing new drafts of my play, maybe a workout, and journaling!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an actor and playwright from Beijing, China, and am currently based in New York City. Recent acting credits: Anti-Gone (Edinburgh Fringe, A.R.T./New York Theater), Of Ashes and Souls (The Flea), Femme 9 19 (AMT Theater), Metamorphosis (NYU Black Box). Currently studying Drama and Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University. Writing archive and more: umaygonowhere.com

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
An introverted person who thinks too much, which is still very much who I am right now.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
It was the moment I almost gave up, and I decided not to. And I thought it was not me who should feel bad about themselves—and then put all my pain into my plays.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
That human connection isn’t that important in life. I now realize that people in my life are what ground me in the world, and it is not shameful to give parts of myself to them.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
To see if I can survive being a full-time theater practitioner after graduation!

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