Source of inspiration
If there's a message Victoria Ruvolo has for teens, it's that "one stupid thinking error can lead to destructive decisions." Like the one Ryan Cushing made that changed both their lives.
Ruvolo made headlines in November 2004 as the Lake Ronkonkoma woman whose face was destroyed after Cushing, a teenager from Huntington, threw a 20-pound turkey at her windshield.
She then garnered more attention for urging a lenient sentence for Cushing, who faced up to 25 years in prison but instead served 6 months and is now completing community service.
Ruvolo, 46, shared her story of compassion and recovery yesterday with about 200 students from the Program of Alternative Comprehensive Education and Nassau BOCES. Her speech at the BOCES Cultural Arts Center in Syosset was the highlight of a program coordinated by the school's chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions.
"They are actually helping other kids learn," Ruvolo said of the programmcoordinators, all students from the alternative high school. "It really was amazing."
"Her speech was very touching," said Jascilynn Jones, 18, a senior at PACE and the SADD president.
"It will show people how one student made a decision without thinking of the consequences. You never know what the outcome will be."
"It was very inspirational to hear how it affected everything in her life," said Hollie Silverman, 17, of Bayville, who attends Nassau Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Locust Valley High School. "I thought she turned something so negative into something positive."
Ruvolo has happily returned to her old job and her home with her two cats and two dogs, and she's ditched the wrecked Hyundai she was driving that day for a big SUV, because she wants to be higher than other drivers on the road.
But even as she relishes the return to her old life, Ruvolo now speaks about her experience at local schools and churches, and hopes her story will help youngsters learn a little bit about consequences.
She's even speaking every month to the same juvenile probation group that Cushing works with, although she hasn't seen him since the trial.
"If I can change lives, then it wasn't in vain," Ruvolo said.

Things to do now on LI Rock climbing? Indoor beach volleyball? Water parks? Arts and crafts? NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at ways to spend your winter break.

Things to do now on LI Rock climbing? Indoor beach volleyball? Water parks? Arts and crafts? NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at ways to spend your winter break.