First-year student at the Faculty of Arts, CU, majoring in Languages and Communication of the Deaf

(19 years old)

Sára, a girl with a fateful name and a fateful life. Those who knew Sára know that she was a living ‘advertisement’ for being a wonderful daughter, friend, companion… a person you would want beside you. Willing, sincere, loving, empathetic, with open arms and a heart on her sleeve.

She was happy in the circle of her loved ones and was very close to her sister. She loved people, friends, and children, spending a lot of time with them, and her love for nature drew her to trips and especially to the annual summer camp where she last served as a leader. She enjoyed working with children, who trusted her completely and were drawn to her. She had the ability to enter their world and excite them about anything she imagined.

In her free time, she loved to travel and explore new places. She visited castles and palaces, especially those featured in fairy tales or films and TV series. She never gave up on family vacations, even as she grew older. She adored the mysterious world of fantasy and fairy tales. She liked to curl up in a corner with a book or, conversely, with a tablet and a film or series. Recently, she had a fondness for K-dramas (Korean soap operas) but also enjoyed films from earlier eras.

She greatly enjoyed playing computer games, with her favourites being The Sims or Zoo Tycoon. She could immerse herself in these games and forget for a while about the outside world, especially when she felt it was being unfair. Nevertheless, despite the isolation many experience in today’s electronic age, she managed to maintain a balance between her vibrant, present self and her digital footprint in cyberspace.

She always looked forward to Christmas with immense excitement, being the very architect of festive spirit. From the end of summer, she would count the days and think of gifts, which she would then work on herself. We will greatly miss her imagination.

She was everywhere she went, shining brightly. She was a driven, energetic perfectionist who would not rest until she was satisfied with the result. She wanted to be the best, the fastest, the most beautiful, the smartest, the most amazing, and she generally succeeded.

She had a quick wit and eagerly engaged in verbal sparring with anyone brave enough to try, but she was also tolerant, never imposing her intellect, never bothersome, never arrogant. She always had a kind word and a radiant smile for everyone and knew how to entertain at a level where everyone felt good. She enjoyed sarcasm and used it masterfully. Together with her sister, they were unmatched in this skill.

Although her secondary school was a Business Academy, she never stopped considering a career as a teacher or educator, eventually choosing a focus in the specific field of sign language. This field of study at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University was her choice among three universities she was accepted at simultaneously. She was greatly passionate about her studies, even though she had some apprehension about certain subjects. She had a natural talent for sign language and an excellent memory, and it showed how much she enjoyed it. Moreover, she was part of a fantastic group of classmates who also met outside of the university.

It would seem she had no worries, but like all of us, Sára faced a number of personal challenges, some truly difficult, yet as was her habit, she never failed to meet them. She approached each one to the best of her ability. Fortunately, she was never alone; she had her family and a devoted boyfriend, Dominik, who always had a full embrace of love and inexhaustible patience when Sára began to lose faith or was mired in doubts. In those times, when the sky was overcast and the sun refused to come out, he was an invaluable support.

She struggled with the tension between setting the bar high for herself and perceived personal weakness, imperfection, and vulnerability. Sometimes she doubted herself, sometimes she feared whether she would be accepted by others, and she was sensitive to negative reactions. She, who you would not expect this from and who had the least reason for it… she, who did not harm, did not wrong, did not lie, left nothing owed to life or those around her. Not even the pain of her departure was caused by her.

To the grandmothers and grandfathers, Sára was the greatest sunshine, giving out full embraces of kind willingness and warm kindness. She was a bright star, pure and clear, who flew through their lives delicate and vulnerable and who suddenly and without warning disappeared into the bottomless darkness… but despite everything, despite the endless cruelty of a single terrible moment, her light continues to shine from the darkness for everyone, silently and persistently.

There are few who can face eternity so proudly, with such a balanced account, after a life filled with usefulness, love, goodness, and light. We thank her for every moment she was with us. We will never forget her and she certainly deserves our deep respect, because just as she faced fate throughout her life, so did she in her final moments. She did not bow to evil, she succumbed to it defenceless but unbowed.