We all belong here.

These are the most significant experiences in my life where I have felt lonely. So the top left corner is about siblings that have big age gaps, my eldest brother and sister are 9 and 12 years older than me. When I was 14 I had some issues with a parent and they didn’t understand how much it was affecting me because they weren’t living in it. They both had their own lives and one lived in another state, and the other had a kid and a house. I feel like they should have stuck up for me a bit more.

The next one (Top right) is pretty recent – I have started to feel a lot better lately in terms of mental health, and theres this grief, when you realise how much that has taken from you – missed experiences, opportunities, the things you could have done or achieved if you didn’t have depression or anxiety.

(Bottom left) having a rocky relationship with my mum can be isolating and exhausting when you have to be the parent – especially when you look around and your friends or peers get to be an early 20s person with their own life.

Bottom right feeling different from the rest or not like you fit anywhere my mum is white Australian, and my dad is African American. My black side is what I feel more connected to, but because I look a certain way (I have lighter skin than my siblings) people from my own culture even dismiss me. It can feel isolating when your whole identity doesn’t feel validated.

Hi, I'm Jackie I'm 18 from Vic. This is my digital artwork.

Loneliness
A word and feeling all encompassing
We walk through life feeling
Like an outcast, a nobody.
We live in an age where we are so connected
Yet so disconnected. Socially. Emotionally
We chase after likes, followers, achievements.
Yet it all feels so empty, like a bereavement.
Sometimes it feels like no one loves you
You don’t even love yourself, whats even the point of popularity.
Hating yourself, blaming yourself for being different
Thats got less to do with my disability
But how can i feel in this world that won’t accept my identity
This is my journey, battle, The war within.
I had friends, who i thought would support me,
Left, leaving me a wreck, emotionally.
I was told to stop being weak,
Even though every day I was teary
I told myself this is the reality
Of why i feel lonely; ashamed of my feelings.
Who will understand me?
Sometimes, I get opportunities
To meet new people
To open myself up
To heal
To love myself
To give me
To feel understood
Healthy Friendships that empower and enlighten me
Spaces to share my story.
Makes the journey less isolating.
I realise, I’m not the only person feeling this,
I can create a new, different and empowering destiny.
Life can throw lemons
Yet I make lemonades
Life can feel lonely
Yet you path the way, the journey for other peoples quality.
Of life.
Life has its ups and downs,
Your lowest might feel like forever,
But like anything, never say never.
You will get better.
Life isn’t a competition,
It’s a collaboration.
You have the power to empower
That is our superpower
Of lived experience.
Because so many of us experience this.
all of us together.
We are never truly alone, just because we feel lonely.
We are one and only

Living alone as a young adult and overwhelmed with life milestones and achievements, when does one rest and take a step back to find passion in life again? Running ahead in my life compared to my peers due to family pressure and being an immigrant away from them, stakes are high if I fail but yet I am only one person to take it all in. Few friends can relate to me and certainly I’ll still need to face it head on everyday with my own challenges coming by. Oh I wish I wasn’t feeling alone in my own battles with growing up too fast thinking so far ahead in life while also trying to experience fun with my friends and partner that’s only available in my 20s too