Final Thoughts

There are many issues teenagers deal with as they grow up. But one most don't think about is one of the "inevitables"... death.

In a special Assignment: Education report.. "Final Thoughts".. Bill Ratliff shows us how some high school students are dealing with that subject head on. As Bill tells us.. the students are doing it through a wonderful project involving the celebration of life stories.

--[Hospice patient Alfred Savitt says:] ".. and I came to this country in 1908."--

This is 97-year-old Alfred Savitt. He has a story to tell, and he's going to tell it to these two young ladies.

--[Student Alison Titus asks:] "Where did you live after your family came here?"[Savitt says:] "My family settled in Cleveland, Ohio."--

Alison Titus and Anastasia Boutsis are sitting down with Mr. Savitt to record his life memories. The girls are students at Palm Harbor University High School and members of the school's Hospice volunteer program. The videos they shoot for the school's "Life, Camera, Action" project provide oral legacies of hospice patients.. for the loved ones they will leave behind.

--[ Titus says:] "At first, I asked myself.. like how can I do this? It's going to be hard, but what I saw what we are doing as a group for these people and how we are showing them the uplifting side.. That's what makes it easier for us to deal with their death."--

And the stories they hear leave them in awe. Like Alfred Savitt's.. who followed his family from Russia to Cleveland in 1908.. sailing the Atlantic.. landing at Ellis Island.. and taking a train to Cleveland.. alone.. at the age of eight.

--[savitt says:] "My parents didn't know what train I was coming in on. So, my father went to the New York Central, and my mother went to the P. A. Central,.. and I came in on the B and O (group laughs). [Student Anastasia Boutsis says:] "It's amazing the experiences he had, that I might never have. It's just amazing to share another person's life."--

These teens say what they are doing is a privilege, and they feel good in knowing they are giving a priceless gift to loved ones. Hospice Counselor Sue Muller says they should.. because she says their video legacies have real meaning.

--[Hospice Counselor Sue Muller says:] "The value is taking a slice of someone's life and letting children and grandchildren and great grandchildren understand not only their history and their antecedents, but also the richness of the person that it was."--

Their hospice work has helped these young ladies learn to cherish life and to listen with love and understanding to the "Final thoughts" of people like Alfred Savitt.

--[Titus asks:] "Is there anything else you'd like to tell your family?" [Savitt says:] "I want you all to know I'm very, very proud of you. I'm sorry you can't be with me, but that's for another time."--

Bill says one of Mr. Savitt's daughters told him their family treasures the tape Alsion and Anastasia made for them. There are now 75 teen hospice volunteers at Palm Harbor University High School. They receive the support and help of the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast.

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