In “Kuya,” an illustrated piece by the artist AJ Dungo, he tells the story of his relationship with his older brother, who struggles with mental illness. He is proud of his brother’s courage, and he sees far beyond any negative labels that society might put on his brother.
Do you have meaningful relationships with family members? Choose one, and describe what the person means to you, and why.
Mr. Dungo writes the following text to accompany his illustrations:
Kuya (a term in Filipino culture used to address an older brother as a sign of respect.)
I asked my brother if we could take a walk together.
The simple act of walking is a triumphant feat for him.
When he was in his 20s, he shattered both of his heels when he jumped out of a window.
My brother has since been diagnosed with schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, Asperger’s syndrome and bipolar disorder.
Experimenting with medication for my brother has been a lifelong struggle. The side effects of these drugs in combination with his incident have significantly limited his physical abilities.
Time has healed some wounds. But his mental condition has limited him to a reclusive life.
Society has deemed my brother as mentally ill. But I prefer some other labels. Eldest. Artist. Uncle. Compassionate.
Courageous.
Kuya.
The steps that he takes to maintain his mental and physical health, despite all that he’s been through, make my heart swell with pride … and my feet too.
Students, read the entire story, and then tell us:
Describe a meaningful relationship you have with a family member. What are things you do together? Why is this person special to you?
In the illustrated story, Mr. Dungo describes his brother with six words: eldest, artist, uncle, compassionate, courageous and kuya. What are six words that you would use to describe your family member?
Mr. Dungo describes a stigma — a symbol of disgrace or shame — in his story: “Society has deemed my brother as mentally ill.” Why is mental illness often stigmatized, or looked down on, in our society?
Do you know anyone, including yourself, who struggles with mental health issues? Do you think the people around this person sufficiently appreciate and celebrate the person’s strengths, rather than focus too much on the person’s illness and struggles?
Want more writing prompts? You can find all of our questions in our Student Opinion column. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
