A Sense of Belonging

A Sense of Belonging Story Sequence Frame 1 - Frame 7
Story Sequence Frame 01 - 07
A “Sense of Belonging” is a story based on true events that address the real struggles of self-discovery and identity.

The main protagonist comes from a predominantly Christian family and experiences a period in her life where she questions the values and teachings upon which she’d been raised, also triggered by her inability to belong and fit in with like-minded people. For extensive periods she would journal in her notebook. One day she couldn’t take it anymore and wrote how worthless she felt, revealing her most accurate inner thoughts of the extent of her depression and thoughts of suicide.
The protagonist’s parent’s, noticing their daughter’s disconnect from others, forcibly encouraged her to attend church. The protagonist, argumentative about the subject, always submissively and reluctantly went with them. One Sunday, she intently listened to the pastor giving his sermon in hopes of receiving some resolve or hope, to which she finally received. After the church service, a kind-hearted person approached the protagonist. Inviting her to bible study and introducing her to more warm and like-minded people who accepted her for who she was. She, at last, felt like she belonged and realised the importance of patience being a virtue.
The Protagonist writes in a notebook while seated on her bed.
The Protagonist writes in a notebook while seated on her bed.
The Protagonist is journaling her feelings and thoughts in her notebook.
The Protagonist is journaling her feelings and thoughts in her notebook.
The Protagonist writes their deepest, depressive and darkest inner thoughts.
The Protagonist writes their deepest, depressive and darkest inner thoughts.
The Protagonist breaks the fourth wall and unveils her sadness and desperation for connection by looking directly into the camera.
The Protagonist breaks the fourth wall and unveils her sadness and desperation for connection by looking directly into the camera.
The Protagonist is disrupted by their thoughts when their mother enters their bedroom. Caught off guard, they immediately get frustrated and tell their mother to leave.
The Protagonist is disrupted by their thoughts when their mother enters their bedroom. Caught off guard, they immediately get frustrated and tell their mother to leave.
The Protagonist’s mum tells her off and informs her that she must attend a church service with them the next day.
The Protagonist’s mum tells her off and informs her that she must attend a church service with them the next day.
The Protagonist gets rather angry with their mother for not seeming like she had a choice in the matter.
The Protagonist gets rather angry with their mother for not seeming like she had a choice in the matter.
The Protagonist stops arguing and, in a reluctant submission, decides to attend with her parents the next day.
The Protagonist stops arguing and, in a reluctant submission, decides to attend with her parents the next day.
In attendance of the church service, the pastor is standing in the middle of the platform, speaking to the congregation.
In attendance of the church service, the pastor is standing in the middle of the platform, speaking to the congregation.
The pastor intently emphasises the points in his sermon about accepting our flaws and turning to the idea of new life through Jesus.
The pastor intently emphasises the points in his sermon about accepting our flaws and turning to the idea of new life through Jesus.
The Protagonist and her parents are sitting in the audience of the congregation. While the Protagonist is not interested in being there, she decides to listen and reflect on his words reluctantly.
The Protagonist and her parents are sitting in the audience of the congregation. While the Protagonist is not interested in being there, she decides to listen and reflect on his words reluctantly.
After the church service ends, the Protagonist decides to remain sulky and not move from her chair after most if not all people leave to enter the other main foyer area. She finds herself bitter and alone with no one to talk to.
After the church service ends, the Protagonist decides to remain sulky and not move from her chair after most if not all people leave to enter the other main foyer area. She finds herself bitter and alone with no one to talk to.
A young, friendly person approaches the Protagonist and sits with her to introduce herself and chat. The Protagonist is wary and withdrawn.
A young, friendly person approaches the Protagonist and sits with her to introduce herself and chat. The Protagonist is wary and withdrawn.
After speaking to the Protagonist and providing consolation and assurance, the Protagonist is overwhelmed with emotion and starts crying.
After speaking to the Protagonist and providing consolation and assurance, the Protagonist is overwhelmed with emotion and starts crying.
After establishing this new connection with a “friend”, the Protagonist gets introduced to more new people from the other girl’s friendship group, with still a form of hesitancy.
After establishing this new connection with a “friend”, the Protagonist gets introduced to more new people from the other girl’s friendship group, with still a form of hesitancy.
The Protagonist soon finds that these other people are also very accepting, warm and engaging with her. She starts to feel not so alone anymore and laughs with them, realising it was the first time she’d ever smiled in twelve months.
The Protagonist soon finds that these other people are also very accepting, warm and engaging with her. She starts to feel not so alone anymore and laughs with them, realising it was the first time she’d ever smiled in twelve months.
"Sense of Belonging" Storyboard Sequence
"A Sense of Belonging" Project Document