Petra Götzen Knihy

Watching a loved one go through dementia is incredibly difficult—especially for those who are close to the person affected. What struck me deeply is that, by the time the diagnosis is made and the disease has already progressed, the person with dementia often grows quieter about what’s happening. Meanwhile, those who love them are left to witness the slow changes and carry the emotional weight. In my case, I felt a strong need to express what I was experiencing, so I began to write poems. At first, I wasn’t sure whether I should ever share them. They are very personal, and writing them was part of my own way of processing everything. But eventually, I realized that my mother's story deserves to be shared—not only to honor her memory but to make sure she is never forgotten. Through the highs and the lows, her life and our journey matter. If my words can comfort or support even one person who is facing a similar experience, then it’s worth sharing. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

International Schools aim to be culturally open and provide language support for students whose home language differs from the school's target language, English. Many students are fluent in their home language but struggle with writing. To address this, students focused on comic writing to build confidence.