Coming-of-age

Jay’s coming-of-age arc is initiated by the death of his cousin in the Philippines; this death teaches Jay how short life can be, how difficult the truth can be, and how important communication is. Jay is absorbed in his own life and personal problems when he learns that Jun is dead. He does not want to accept the truth, that Jun died because he was using drugs, but is eventually forced to do so. After his experience in the Philippines learning about the last years of Jun’s life, Jay is determined to open lines of communication between himself and his father. He has learned how important it is to let others know the truth about himself and learn the truth about them.

Before Jun’s death, Jay is absorbed in his own life, but his trip to the Philippines to learn the cause of...