Berlin Philharmoniker Visits New York - Veralyn Williams, Graduate Rookie
During the Berlin Philharmoniker's 17 day stint in New York this month, the orchestra is working with several of the city's high brow cultural institutions, Carnegie Hall, MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Department of Education. Reporter Veralyn Williams spent the last 3 weeks following a group of high school students as they prepare to perform this weekend with members of the Berlin Philharmoniker. They're created an original work inspired by Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring".

Meet the Republicans! - Shakima Swain, Graduate Rookie
Eighteen-year old Radio Rookie Shakima Swain will be a first time voter this November. She knows there are two major political parties, but she doesn't know many Republicans. Most of her friends and families are either Democrats or non-citizens. This week's Republican Convention provided her a unique opportunity.

Subways - Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Graduate Rookie
The New York City subway system is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Midwood Radio Rookie Samr "Rocky" Tayeh reports on what subways mean to teenagers in the city.

Students Speak Out - Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Graduate Rookie
Radio Rookie Rocky Tayeh reports on the City Council's latest effort to improve education in NYC - a hearing held especially for students to testify about the state of their schools.

We have stories to tell! - Amina Tariq, Elmhurst
Amina isn't proud of it, but she readily admits that she gossips a lot. Like the girls in the movie Mean Girls, Amina and her friends do it all the time ­ she jokingly says it's like "Muslim Girls Gone Wild." But even though everyone is doing it, Amina starts to feel conflicted about the amount of time she spends talking about other people. She sees that even with the microphone out and minidisk rolling, she and her friends don't stop. She also comes to realize that she herself is a target. Amina sets out to find out what it all means.

The Internet Bug - Yesica Balderrama, Elmhurst
Like a lot of teenagers, Yesica has spent hours and hours online, mostly chatting to her friends, some of whom lived only blocks away. Sometimes she found she couldn't stop herself from logging on, even when, hours later, she'd log off feeling like she'd been in a trance. Yesica knew she wasn't actually addicted to the internet, but she decided to take a closer look at what was driving this exhausting need.

One Atheist, 14 Catholics - Sonia Ponce, New Brighton
Sonia first learned about Darwin in junior high school. The theory of evolution made sense to Sonia and she began to question everything she'd been taught previously by the church and her devoutly Catholic mother. Four years later, Sonia is the only atheist among her parent's 13 children-a fact that often leaves her feeling misunderstood and tired of explaining that just because she doesn't believe in God, she doesn't worship the devil. Sonia's documentary delves into the religious and cultural split that divides her from her family, especially her parents: "They grew up on little farms [in Mexico] with no running water and wooden floors. My dad started herding goats and cows when he was five years old. It was hard to survive and go to school. My mom went to school through the first grade and can only write her name."

Advice to the Mayor - Jesus Gonzalez, Graduate Rookie
Bushwick Rookie Jesus Gonzalez (with reporting help from Hunts Point Rookie Janesse Nieves) advises Mayor Bloomberg on how to improve New York City schools. His report draws a response from former public advocate Mark Green.

New York City Marathon - Kady Bulnes, Graduate Rookie
In honor of the New York City Marathon, Kady Bulnes and Wally Linder, shared this story.

Baseball Back in the Day - Jose Lopez, Graduate Rookie
Radio Rookie Graduate Jose Lopez received what he thought would be a tough assignment: interview life-long New Yorker Stephen Ucciardi, who still remembers when the Dodgers played in Brooklyn, and the Babe was unbeatable.

Young And Old Look Back On World Series - Kady Bulnes, Graduate Rookie
An avid sports fan, Wally Linder told Kady Bulnes, about his first trip to see the Yankees.

The N-Word: It Represents Hatred - Veralyn Williams, Graduate Rookie
WNYC's Radio Rookie Veralyn Williams explores the complexities of a contested term by discussing the limits of the N-word. Who can use it? How has its meaning changed over time?

Anchor Dream - Linda Lee, Flushing
Linda Lee dreams of being the next Kaity Tong, the WB11's nightly news co-anchor. But Linda worries her Korean roots will get in her way.

Fashion Obsession - Shakima Ebony Swain, Lower East Side
Since she was little, Shakima has been dressing in style. She is proud of her fashion sense, but finds that as her family's finances have changed, it's been harder to keep up with the name brands she adores.

Girls Choir of Harlem - Danielle Beckom, Harlem
Danielle's brother is a member of the world-renowned Boys Choir of Harlem, and that inspired her to report on a lesser-known choir: The Girls Choir of Harlem.

Grafitti Hall of Fame - Jimmy Belfon Jr., Harlem
Jimmy's report is on the Graffiti Hall of Fame, which covers the walls of his school playground. Jimmy asks listeners to look more closely at graffiti and think about where to draw the line between art and vandalism.

Me and Junior - Michael Lewis, Midwood
Michael, seventeen, has idolized his older brother, Junior, his entire life and has followed him into everything -- good and bad, but mostly bad. Junior, who recently got arrested and spent months in jail, insists that Michael stay in school but doesn't do much to give Michael a positive example. Michael questions whether he can, or even wants to, separate enough from his brother and their friends to change his ways.

Pirate Radio - Antoine Bazilio, Harlem
Antoine is an advocate for pirate radio and a DJ at a local community radio station and did his report on the show he hosts: The Literature Show.

Poetry - Judith Rudge, Hunts Point
Since she moved to the Bronx from Suriname at age 12, Judith hasn't felt she fits in with any group. In High School, Judith didn't take up arms -- she took up poetry.

Questions - Munir Karim, Midwood
With questions like "How do we know our life in not a dream?," "What if 'The Matrix' is real?." and "What if you don't really exist, but are just a figment of my imagination?" constantly rattling around in his head, Munir's story is a window into the philosophical realm of one teenager's mind.

Stress After 9/11 - Jacky Monterosso, St. George
Since September 11th, Jacky has noticed that confusion and anxiety has seeped into the everyday lives of Staten Island teens -- including her own. But in her search for ways to 'deal,' she finds adults 'missing in action' and some friends less ready to help than she expected.

Superstar - David Sealey, Hunts Point
David is obsessed with becoming a star -- he wants a mansion, a limo, constant media attention, and his own clothing line. But his mother says he should be worrying about his report card.

Virginity - Carmen Mojica, Hunts Point
Carmen wants to stay a virgin until she gets married. But TV, music and peer pressure all seem to be conspiring against her.

Dreams and Ambitions

Legal Status? - Veralyn Williams, Mosholu
Veralyn has spent almost her whole life in the United States. She doesn't even remember Sierra Leone - her birth country from which her parents moved when Veralyn was an infant. Her dad has a green card. Her younger siblings are all citizens who were born in New York. Veralyn, however, is confused about her own legal status. She's not a citizen, she doesn't have a green card and she doesn't even know what rights she has. She can't work, can't get financial aid for college and is frustrated about her situation. When Veralyn starts to ask questions, some of her family members get nervous and uncomfortable.

Lucid Dreaming - Neil Ramkissoon, Elmhurst
Have you ever had a dream that you were aware you were dreaming? Neil had a dream like that so powerful and intense that it set him on a months-long journey to perfect the art of lucid dreaming. He wasn't interested in the meaning of his dreams, he just wanted the freedom to be able to fly.

What about Me, Uncle Sam? - Christian, New Brighton
Every day on his way to school, Christian passes a group of men lined up for work on the street. Most of them are undocumented Mexican immigrants -- just like him -- without any pathway to legal citizenship. Christian is 15 years-old and grew up in New York City. For teens like him it can be hard to keep going to classes, knowing that without permanent resident status, the jobs and opportunities they seek will be closed to them. Some of the immigration reform legislation currently being debated in Congress, known as The Dream Act, contains provisions for kids like Christian--who have spent the majority of their lives in the US-- to gain their citizenship through completion of college or military service. And even with all the grim risks of war, Christian's best hope might be the Army.

Legal Emancipation - Jordan Teklay, Manhattan
Two years ago, at 15, Jordan Teklay became legally emancipated from his parents and moved on his own from California to New York City. Since then, he has been learning to juggle the responsibilities of work, school and taking care of himself. Emancipation has brought both freedom and hardship. Struggling to negotiate his path in the world, Jordan is trying to understand what it means to be an adult.

Students Speak Out - Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Graduate Rookie
Radio Rookie Rocky Tayeh reports on the City Council's latest effort to improve education in NYC - a hearing held especially for students to testify about the state of their schools.

Rookie Reports on Summer Jobs - Shakima Swain, Graduate Rookie
Lower East Side Rookie Shakima Swain reports on the state of teen summer jobs.

Activism - Marisa Day, St. George
Marisa, leftist teen activist, tries to start a youth activism group on Staten Island and learns a few things about what does and doesn't sway the conservative masses.

Anchor Dream - Linda Lee, Flushing
Linda Lee dreams of being the next Kaity Tong, the WB11's nightly news co-anchor. But Linda worries her Korean roots will get in her way.

Me and Junior - Michael Lewis, Midwood
Michael, seventeen, has idolized his older brother, Junior, his entire life and has followed him into everything -- good and bad, but mostly bad. Junior, who recently got arrested and spent months in jail, insists that Michael stay in school but doesn't do much to give Michael a positive example. Michael questions whether he can, or even wants to, separate enough from his brother and their friends to change his ways.

My Struggle with Obesity - Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Midwood
Fifteen-year old Rocky, a Palestinian American, lives with his parents and siblings in Brooklyn. Rocky's story is about his emotional struggle with obesity. Nearly three times the size of his twin sister, Rocky is the target of many of his siblings' jokes and insults. Rocky earnestly wants to slim down but doesn't know how to control his eating.

Questions - Munir Karim, Midwood
With questions like "How do we know our life in not a dream?," "What if 'The Matrix' is real?." and "What if you don't really exist, but are just a figment of my imagination?" constantly rattling around in his head, Munir's story is a window into the philosophical realm of one teenager's mind.

Superstar - David Sealey, Hunts Point
David is obsessed with becoming a star -- he wants a mansion, a limo, constant media attention, and his own clothing line. But his mother says he should be worrying about his report card.

Tracking - Jaimita Haskell, St. George
When Jaimita got bumped up into a more advanced high school program, all the books were brand new and the students listened politely to each other. Then, because of overcrowding, she got dropped back into the relative chaos of mainstream classes. In the course of reporting on it, Jaimita surprises herself and her principal.

Family

Parenting Pointers - Carlos "Chico" Gonzalez, Mosholu
Chico loves his parents, but thinks they can learn a few things about parenting - from him. Chico thinks since he's a teen, he knows how best to parent teens. Chico's come up with some pointers for parents, and explores them in his story.

Aggression - Derrick "Honeybun" Hewitt, Mosholu
Fourteen-year-old Derrick can be pretty aggressive. A big part of why Derrick loves football is that he can hit people -- without getting in trouble. At home, Derrick gets in trouble a lot, and this often leads him to fight with his brothers.

Losing Home - Wen Ou, Elmhurst
Wen moved to the United States from China in 2001 and she hasn't returned since. In China, Wen lived with her grandparents and was surrounded by her extended family. Here in New York, it's just her and her mom. At the time she left China, Wen thought it would be for a few months or maybe a year, and she barely remembers saying goodbye to her family. Now, five years later, she wishes she had appreciated her relatives more when she was still living with them. Looking back, she feels like she took it all for granted, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't get it back, even in memories.

My Family Remembers - Edward Llanos, Elmhurst
Just three out of every million Americans are diagnosed each year with a potentially fatal blood disease called Aplastic Anemia. Edward was one of them. He was 12 years old when he entered the hospital and received a life-saving bone marrow transplant from his littlest brother, followed by months in the hospital and a year recuperating at home. Once he fully recovered, he didn't look back. Now a healthy high school senior, Edward assumes that everyone around him has moved on, too. But when he decides to revisit this part of his past, he discovers that his each of his family members experienced his illness in ways he didn't (or couldn't) recognize at the time ­ and some effects still linger.

What about Me, Uncle Sam? - Christian, New Brighton
Every day on his way to school, Christian passes a group of men lined up for work on the street. Most of them are undocumented Mexican immigrants -- just like him -- without any pathway to legal citizenship. Christian is 15 years-old and grew up in New York City. For teens like him it can be hard to keep going to classes, knowing that without permanent resident status, the jobs and opportunities they seek will be closed to them. Some of the immigration reform legislation currently being debated in Congress, known as The Dream Act, contains provisions for kids like Christian--who have spent the majority of their lives in the US-- to gain their citizenship through completion of college or military service. And even with all the grim risks of war, Christian's best hope might be the Army.

The Second Mom - Sara Martinez, New Brighton
Sara Martinez assumes a lot of responsibility in her family. She helps her parents, who are from Mexico, with household chores and serves as their bridge to the English-speaking world. She also looks after her three younger siblings, including her youngest brother, Diego, who was born with autism. Sara knows that taking care of Diego helped her grow up faster than her peers, and sometimes she feels she missed out on being just a regular teenager. As Sara says in her radio documentary, "When my mom was telling me her worries about Diego, inside I was like, 'why are you telling me this? I'm just a kid - why should I have to worry too?' But instead I just let my mom talk."

One Atheist, 14 Catholics - Sonia Ponce, New Brighton
Sonia first learned about Darwin in junior high school. The theory of evolution made sense to Sonia and she began to question everything she'd been taught previously by the church and her devoutly Catholic mother. Four years later, Sonia is the only atheist among her parent's 13 children-a fact that often leaves her feeling misunderstood and tired of explaining that just because she doesn't believe in God, she doesn't worship the devil. Sonia's documentary delves into the religious and cultural split that divides her from her family, especially her parents: "They grew up on little farms [in Mexico] with no running water and wooden floors. My dad started herding goats and cows when he was five years old. It was hard to survive and go to school. My mom went to school through the first grade and can only write her name."

Growing Up in The System - Shirley "Star" Diaz, Manhattan
Shirley Diaz's life has been shaped by the tragedy of her mother's murder, and the difficulty of growing up in six different foster homes, separated from her six younger siblings. To avoid being consumed by loss, Shirley tries to make sense of these events and find refuge in home and family as she finds them.

Group Home - Krystle Monclova, Manhattan
14-year-old Krystle has been living in a group home in Manhattan since last summer. She never expected to wind up in "the system," but when conflicts between Krystle and her mother reached a boiling point she found herself separated from her family. In her radio story, Krystle documents what life is like in the group home and how she might be able to move back to her family.

Legal Emancipation - Jordan Teklay, Manhattan
Two years ago, at 15, Jordan Teklay became legally emancipated from his parents and moved on his own from California to New York City. Since then, he has been learning to juggle the responsibilities of work, school and taking care of himself. Emancipation has brought both freedom and hardship. Struggling to negotiate his path in the world, Jordan is trying to understand what it means to be an adult.

My First Mother's Day - Janelle Lewis, Graduate Rookie
On May 12, 2002 Janelle Lewis' commentary about giving birth to her first daughter Jandora aired as part of a Mother's Day Special on WNYC's Radio Lab. Right after Janelle gives birth, she calls out to her mom for the tape-recorder.

Father's Day in My Family - Janelle Lewis, Graduate Rookie
A couple years ago on her first Mother's Day, Harlem Radio Rookie Janelle Lewis shared with WNYC listeners her first experience with motherhood...She even shared the sounds of herself giving birth to her daughter Jandora. For Father's Day, 24-year-old Janelle contemplates how different these two holidays are in her household.

9/11 and My Family - Karla Saavedra, Graduate Rookie
On September 11th, WNYC's Radio Rookie Karla Saavedra spent the day worrying about the safety of her father, who worked in a restaurant near the World Trade Center. Karla reports on the economic impact of September 11th for WNYC's special Six Months documentary.

Esther and Abuelita - Kady Bulnes, Graduate Rookie
Radio Rookie Graduate Kady Bulnes and 75-year-old Wally Linder share a story about two of the more amazing women in their lives: Esther, who was Wally's first wife, and Kady's grandmother - her "Abuelita".

Automotive High School - David Ford, Bushwick
There are 11 million students in the U.S attending some form of vocational school. David attends Automotive High School in New York City. His love of cars started with his dad.

Candi Trisomy 13 - Marc Delgado, Harlem
Marc's 13 year old sister Candice who was born with Trisomy 13 - she can't walk or talk. Marc's report walks listeners through a day of life with Candice. Sadly, Candice passed away after the initial airing of Marc's story.

Disability - Christy Loo, St. George
Christy reports on what happened to her family after her dad got hit by a car and became permanently disabled.

Dominican Republic - Angely Tavares, Lower East Side
Angely has family in the Dominican Republic, and she goes there every year for vacation. She adores the DR and often wishes she lived there, instead of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. But many Dominicans, like Angely's father and grandfather, immigrate to New York for a "better life." Angely's not sure they're making the right choice.

Getting to Know Big Babi - Sophie Rand, Midwood
Sophie is one of nearly 100 great-grandkids on the side of her father's grandmother, Serena - a 106-year old Holocaust survivor. There are many things making it hard for Sophie to get to know Serena, but Sophie is determined to get to know her great-grandmother, and in doing so, she's learning a whole lot about herself and her family.

Growing up Alone - Sunnie Hwang, Flushing
Sunnie Hwang moved to the US from Korea, hoping she would find the happiness she had as a child -- when her parents were still alive.

Heroin - Janesse (Nesse) Nieves, Hunts Point
Janesse's father left her and her family for Heroin when she was very young. Janesse takes her microphone to her father's house to try to convince him he should leave Heroin alone.

In-your-face Parents - Heidi Choe, Flushing
Heidi Choe's parents pay attention to her -- A LOT of attention. She thinks in-your-face parenting can be overdone.

Me and Junior - Michael Lewis, Midwood
Michael, seventeen, has idolized his older brother, Junior, his entire life and has followed him into everything -- good and bad, but mostly bad. Junior, who recently got arrested and spent months in jail, insists that Michael stay in school but doesn't do much to give Michael a positive example. Michael questions whether he can, or even wants to, separate enough from his brother and their friends to change his ways.

Mom - Eric Wilson, Hunts Point
Eric's father was murdered when he was 3 years old and his mother was addicted to drugs. So Eric has lived with his grandmother all his life, but he still feels something is missing.

My Struggle with Obesity - Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Midwood
Fifteen-year old Rocky, a Palestinian American, lives with his parents and siblings in Brooklyn. Rocky's story is about his emotional struggle with obesity. Nearly three times the size of his twin sister, Rocky is the target of many of his siblings' jokes and insults. Rocky earnestly wants to slim down but doesn't know how to control his eating.

Religion and Family - Heather Oplinger, Flushing
Religion brings some families together, but Heather Oplinger says it pushes others apart. She and her mother are among many who argue over where and how to worship.

Stress After 9/11 - Jacky Monterosso, St. George
Since September 11th, Jacky has noticed that confusion and anxiety has seeped into the everyday lives of Staten Island teens -- including her own. But in her search for ways to 'deal,' she finds adults 'missing in action' and some friends less ready to help than she expected.

Timmy - Jonathan Fauske, St. George
Jonathan looks at the challenges of being an older brother to someone with Down Syndrome. And just being an older brother ...

Trini-American - Janelle Lewis, Harlem
Janelle was born in the United States, but likes to identify herself as Trini. Janelle's report tracks her lifelong quest: figuring out whether she's American or Trini, or both - and why.

Identity

Parenting Pointers - Carlos "Chico" Gonzalez, Mosholu
Chico loves his parents, but thinks they can learn a few things about parenting - from him. Chico thinks since he's a teen, he knows how best to parent teens. Chico's come up with some pointers for parents, and explores them in his story.

Romantic Obsession - Catalina, "Cat" Puente, Mosholu
When Cat finds herself obsessing over people she hardly knows but is smitten with (like celebrities), she realizes it takes over her life. She'll spend hours each day daydreaming about them, or writing about them. She gets irrational, her personality changes, and the object of her obsession takes over her focus. Cat's story is about how romantic obsession almost ruined her life.

Aggression - Derrick "Honeybun" Hewitt, Mosholu
Fourteen-year-old Derrick can be pretty aggressive. A big part of why Derrick loves football is that he can hit people -- without getting in trouble. At home, Derrick gets in trouble a lot, and this often leads him to fight with his brothers.

We have stories to tell! - Amina Tariq, Elmhurst
Amina isn't proud of it, but she readily admits that she gossips a lot. Like the girls in the movie Mean Girls, Amina and her friends do it all the time ­ she jokingly says it's like "Muslim Girls Gone Wild." But even though everyone is doing it, Amina starts to feel conflicted about the amount of time she spends talking about other people. She sees that even with the microphone out and minidisk rolling, she and her friends don't stop. She also comes to realize that she herself is a target. Amina sets out to find out what it all means.

Feeling Ugly Inside - Marie Stephen, New Brighton
When Marie resolved to lose 40 pounds last summer, she thought that would be the end of her struggles with self-esteem. But after exercising and dieting her way to a slimmer figure, she has found her confidence much slower to improve. Tracing the sources of her self image, Marie has found answers and also questions.

One Atheist, 14 Catholics - Sonia Ponce, New Brighton
Sonia first learned about Darwin in junior high school. The theory of evolution made sense to Sonia and she began to question everything she'd been taught previously by the church and her devoutly Catholic mother. Four years later, Sonia is the only atheist among her parent's 13 children-a fact that often leaves her feeling misunderstood and tired of explaining that just because she doesn't believe in God, she doesn't worship the devil. Sonia's documentary delves into the religious and cultural split that divides her from her family, especially her parents: "They grew up on little farms [in Mexico] with no running water and wooden floors. My dad started herding goats and cows when he was five years old. It was hard to survive and go to school. My mom went to school through the first grade and can only write her name."

Saying Good Bye To Food - Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Graduate Rookie
By the time he was a senior in high school, Radio Rookie Samr "Rocky" Tayeh weighed 500 pounds. So he decided to have weight loss surgery. He tells the story of his surgery and its aftermath in the WNYC documentary "Saying Good Bye to Food."

My First Mother's Day - Janelle Lewis, Graduate Rookie
On May 12, 2002 Janelle Lewis' commentary about giving birth to her first daughter Jandora aired as part of a Mother's Day Special on WNYC's Radio Lab. Right after Janelle gives birth, she calls out to her mom for the tape-recorder.

The N-Word: It Represents Hatred - Veralyn Williams, Graduate Rookie
WNYC's Radio Rookie Veralyn Williams explores the complexities of a contested term by discussing the limits of the N-word. Who can use it? How has its meaning changed over time?

Activism - Marisa Day, St. George
Marisa, leftist teen activist, tries to start a youth activism group on Staten Island and learns a few things about what does and doesn't sway the conservative masses.

Anchor Dream - Linda Lee, Flushing
Linda Lee dreams of being the next Kaity Tong, the WB11's nightly news co-anchor. But Linda worries her Korean roots will get in her way.

Being Black - Allison Jones, Midwood
Allison spends her time in two very different Brooklyn neighborhoods. In the one where she goes to school, Allison feels she is accepted and her academic goals are supported. But in the neighborhood where she lives, Allison thinks her peers conform to negative stereotypes about Blacks and expect her to do the same. Before Allison leaves for college, she is exploring what it means to her to be Black.

Dominican Republic - Angely Tavares, Lower East Side
Angely has family in the Dominican Republic, and she goes there every year for vacation. She adores the DR and often wishes she lived there, instead of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. But many Dominicans, like Angely's father and grandfather, immigrate to New York for a "better life." Angely's not sure they're making the right choice.

Gay and Lesbian Teens - Kady Bulnes, Harlem
Kady asks what's it like to be a gay or lesbian teenager in Harlem. Kady went to a Harlem AIDS clinic and discovered there were scant other resources for gays and lesbians in Harlem.

My Struggle with Obesity - Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Midwood
Fifteen-year old Rocky, a Palestinian American, lives with his parents and siblings in Brooklyn. Rocky's story is about his emotional struggle with obesity. Nearly three times the size of his twin sister, Rocky is the target of many of his siblings' jokes and insults. Rocky earnestly wants to slim down but doesn't know how to control his eating.

Teen Rights - Alena Kuczynski, Lower East Side
Alena's parents let her make a lot of her own decisions, but when Alena leaves her apartment she feels less free. She feels discriminated against because of her age. Alena is fourteen and frustrated by laws that say she can't vote, drink or drive.

Trini-American - Janelle Lewis, Harlem
Janelle was born in the United States, but likes to identify herself as Trini. Janelle's report tracks her lifelong quest: figuring out whether she's American or Trini, or both - and why.

Poetry - Judith Rudge Hunts Point,
Since she moved to the Bronx from Suriname at age 12, Judith hasn't felt she fits in with any group. In High School, Judith didn't take up arms -- she took up poetry.

Religion and Family - Heather Oplinger, Flushing
Religion brings some families together, but Heather Oplinger says it pushes others apart. She and her mother are among many who argue over where and how to worship.

Segregation - Mary Fory, Flushing
Mary Fory moved to Queens from Colombia. Now she lives among immigrants from many different countries, but she's noticed that even those who speak Spanish tend not to hang out with each other. Mary's friends are all Colombians.

Timmy - Jonathan Fauske, St. George
Jonathan looks at the challenges of being an older brother to someone with Down Syndrome. And just being an older brother ...

Immigration/Diversity

Legal Status? - Veralyn Williams, Mosholu
Veralyn has spent almost her whole life in the United States. She doesn't even remember Sierra Leone - her birth country from which her parents moved when Veralyn was an infant. Her dad has a green card. Her younger siblings are all citizens who were born in New York. Veralyn, however, is confused about her own legal status. She's not a citizen, she doesn't have a green card and she doesn't even know what rights she has. She can't work, can't get financial aid for college and is frustrated about her situation. When Veralyn starts to ask questions, some of her family members get nervous and uncomfortable.

Losing Home - Wen Ou, Elmhurst
Wen moved to the United States from China in 2001 and she hasn't returned since. In China, Wen lived with her grandparents and was surrounded by her extended family. Here in New York, it's just her and her mom. At the time she left China, Wen thought it would be for a few months or maybe a year, and she barely remembers saying goodbye to her family. Now, five years later, she wishes she had appreciated her relatives more when she was still living with them. Looking back, she feels like she took it all for granted, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't get it back, even in memories.

What about Me, Uncle Sam? - Christian, New Brighton
Every day on his way to school, Christian passes a group of men lined up for work on the street. Most of them are undocumented Mexican immigrants -- just like him -- without any pathway to legal citizenship. Christian is 15 years-old and grew up in New York City. For teens like him it can be hard to keep going to classes, knowing that without permanent resident status, the jobs and opportunities they seek will be closed to them. Some of the immigration reform legislation currently being debated in Congress, known as The Dream Act, contains provisions for kids like Christian--who have spent the majority of their lives in the US-- to gain their citizenship through completion of college or military service. And even with all the grim risks of war, Christian's best hope might be the Army.

The Second Mom - Sara Martinez, New Brighton
Sara Martinez assumes a lot of responsibility in her family. She helps her parents, who are from Mexico, with household chores and serves as their bridge to the English-speaking world. She also looks after her three younger siblings, including her youngest brother, Diego, who was born with autism. Sara knows that taking care of Diego helped her grow up faster than her peers, and sometimes she feels she missed out on being just a regular teenager. As Sara says in her radio documentary, "When my mom was telling me her worries about Diego, inside I was like, 'why are you telling me this? I'm just a kid - why should I have to worry too?' But instead I just let my mom talk."

One Atheist, 14 Catholics - Sonia Ponce, New Brighton
Sonia first learned about Darwin in junior high school. The theory of evolution made sense to Sonia and she began to question everything she'd been taught previously by the church and her devoutly Catholic mother. Four years later, Sonia is the only atheist among her parent's 13 children-a fact that often leaves her feeling misunderstood and tired of explaining that just because she doesn't believe in God, she doesn't worship the devil. Sonia's documentary delves into the religious and cultural split that divides her from her family, especially her parents: "They grew up on little farms [in Mexico] with no running water and wooden floors. My dad started herding goats and cows when he was five years old. It was hard to survive and go to school. My mom went to school through the first grade and can only write her name."

Anchor Dream - Linda Lee, Flushing
Linda Lee dreams of being the next Kaity Tong, the WB11's nightly news co-anchor. But Linda worries her Korean roots will get in her way.

Bashir - Rizwan Aslam, Midwood
When seventeen years old Rizwan hangs out around Coney Island Avenue, he always sees Bashir -- a homeless man who walks with a cane and moves between nearby restaurants and shops, in which he is allowed to sleep in his wheelchair. Rizwan's interest in Bashir set him on a mission to learn more about him.

Being Black - Allison Jones, Midwood
Allison spends her time in two very different Brooklyn neighborhoods. In the one where she goes to school, Allison feels she is accepted and her academic goals are supported. But in the neighborhood where she lives, Allison thinks her peers conform to negative stereotypes about Blacks and expect her to do the same. Before Allison leaves for college, she is exploring what it means to her to be Black.

Dominican Republic - Angely Tavares, Lower East Side
Angely has family in the Dominican Republic, and she goes there every year for vacation. She adores the DR and often wishes she lived there, instead of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. But many Dominicans, like Angely's father and grandfather, immigrate to New York for a "better life." Angely's not sure they're making the right choice.

English - Karla Saavedra, Bushwick
With a growing movement away from bilingual education in schools, Karla's story is a timely one. She moved here from Mexico and is struggling to learn English.

George W. Bush - Jiovan ("Big Pun") Ortiz, Hunts Point
Pun goes on a quest to find out what impact the Bush administration will have on his friends and family.

Getting to Know Big Babi - Sophie Rand, Midwood
Sophie is one of nearly 100 great-grandkids on the side of her father's grandmother, Serena - a 106-year old Holocaust survivor. There are many things making it hard for Sophie to get to know Serena, but Sophie is determined to get to know her great-grandmother, and in doing so, she's learning a whole lot about herself and her family.

Poetry - Judith Rudge Hunts Point,
Since she moved to the Bronx from Suriname at age 12, Judith hasn't felt she fits in with any group. In High School, Judith didn't take up arms -- she took up poetry.

Religion and Family - Heather Oplinger, Flushing
Religion brings some families together, but Heather Oplinger says it pushes others apart. She and her mother are among many who argue over where and how to worship.

Segregation - Mary Fory, Flushing
Mary Fory moved to Queens from Colombia. Now she lives among immigrants from many different countries, but she's noticed that even those who speak Spanish tend not to hang out with each other. Mary's friends are all Colombians.

Trini-American - Janelle Lewis, Harlem
Janelle was born in the United States, but likes to identify herself as Trini. Janelle's report tracks her lifelong quest: figuring out whether she's American or Trini, or both - and why.

Health

My Struggle with Obesity - Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Midwood
Fifteen-year old Rocky, a Palestinian American, lives with his parents and siblings in Brooklyn. Rocky's story is about his emotional struggle with obesity. Nearly three times the size of his twin sister, Rocky is the target of many of his siblings' jokes and insults. Rocky earnestly wants to slim down but doesn't know how to control his eating.

Timmy - Jonathan Fauske, St. George
Jonathan looks at the challenges of being an older brother to someone with Down Syndrome. And just being an older brother.

Candi Trisomy 13 - Marc Delgado, Harlem
Marc's 13 year old sister Candice who was born with Trisomy 13 - she can't walk or talk. Marc's report walks listeners through a day of life with Candice. Sadly, Candice passed away after the initial airing of Marc's story.

Disability - Christy Loo, St. George
Christy reports on what happened to her family after her dad got hit by a car and became permanently disabled.

My Family Remembers - Edward Llanos, Elmhurst
Just three out of every million Americans are diagnosed each year with a potentially fatal blood disease called Aplastic Anemia. Edward was one of them. He was 12 years old when he entered the hospital and received a life-saving bone marrow transplant from his littlest brother, followed by months in the hospital and a year recuperating at home. Once he fully recovered, he didn't look back. Now a healthy high school senior, Edward assumes that everyone around him has moved on, too. But when he decides to revisit this part of his past, he discovers that his each of his family members experienced his illness in ways he didn't (or couldn't) recognize at the time ­ and some effects still linger.

Feeling Ugly Inside - Marie Stephen, New Brighton
When Marie resolved to lose 40 pounds last summer, she thought that would be the end of her struggles with self-esteem. But after exercising and dieting her way to a slimmer figure, she has found her confidence much slower to improve. Tracing the sources of her self image, Marie has found answers and also questions.

Saying Good Bye To Food - Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Graduate Rookie
By the time he was a senior in high school, Radio Rookie Samr "Rocky" Tayeh weighed 500 pounds. So he decided to have weight loss surgery. He tells the story of his surgery and its aftermath in the WNYC documentary "Saying Good Bye to Food."

Mental Health and Loss

Romantic Obsession - Catalina, "Cat" Puente, Mosholu
When Cat finds herself obsessing over people she hardly knows but is smitten with (like celebrities), she realizes it takes over her life. She'll spend hours each day daydreaming about them, or writing about them. She gets irrational, her personality changes, and the object of her obsession takes over her focus. Cat's story is about how romantic obsession almost ruined her life.

Bashir - Rizwan Aslam, Midwood
When seventeen years old Rizwan hangs out around Coney Island Avenue, he always sees Bashir -- a homeless man who walks with a cane and moves between nearby restaurants and shops, in which he is allowed to sleep in his wheelchair. Rizwan's interest in Bashir set him on a mission to learn more about him.

Getting to Know Big Babi - Sophie Rand, Midwood
Sophie is one of nearly 100 great-grandkids on the side of her father's grandmother, Serena - a 106-year old Holocaust survivor. There are many things making it hard for Sophie to get to know Serena, but Sophie is determined to get to know her great-grandmother, and in doing so, she's learning a whole lot about herself and her family.

Growing up Alone - Sunnie Hwang, Flushing
Sunnie Hwang moved to the US from Korea, hoping she would find the happiness she had as a child -- when her parents were still alive.

Mom - Eric Wilson, Hunts Point
Eric's father was murdered when he was 3 years old and his mother was addicted to drugs. So Eric has lived with his grandmother all his life, but he still feels something is missing.

My Struggle with Obesity - Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Midwood
Fifteen-year old Rocky, a Palestinian American, lives with his parents and siblings in Brooklyn. Rocky's story is about his emotional struggle with obesity. Nearly three times the size of his twin sister, Rocky is the target of many of his siblings' jokes and insults. Rocky earnestly wants to slim down but doesn't know how to control his eating.

Stress After 9/11 - Jacky Monterosso, St. George
Since September 11th, Jacky has noticed that confusion and anxiety has seeped into the everyday lives of Staten Island teens -- including her own. But in her search for ways to 'deal,' she finds adults 'missing in action' and some friends less ready to help than she expected.

Suicide - Linda Cuevas, Bushwick
Linda was 14 when she spent two weeks in a mental hospital after attempting suicide. Now, three years later, you can hear her story and share your own.

Teacher - Anthony Brooks, Lower East Side
Anthony's sixth grade teacher made an extraordinary impact on his life. Ms. Figueroa pushed Anthony in class and showed him that she truly cared. In the summer after his sixth grade year, she died suddenly from a brain aneurysm. More than two years later, Anthony is still dealing with his grief over her loss.

Losing Home - Wen Ou, Elmhurst
Wen moved to the United States from China in 2001 and she hasn't returned since. In China, Wen lived with her grandparents and was surrounded by her extended family. Here in New York, it's just her and her mom. At the time she left China, Wen thought it would be for a few months or maybe a year, and she barely remembers saying goodbye to her family. Now, five years later, she wishes she had appreciated her relatives more when she was still living with them. Looking back, she feels like she took it all for granted, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't get it back, even in memories.

Feeling Ugly Inside - Marie Stephen, New Brighton
When Marie resolved to lose 40 pounds last summer, she thought that would be the end of her struggles with self-esteem. But after exercising and dieting her way to a slimmer figure, she has found her confidence much slower to improve. Tracing the sources of her self image, Marie has found answers and also questions.

The Second Mom - Sara Martinez, New Brighton
Sara Martinez assumes a lot of responsibility in her family. She helps her parents, who are from Mexico, with household chores and serves as their bridge to the English-speaking world. She also looks after her three younger siblings, including her youngest brother, Diego, who was born with autism. Sara knows that taking care of Diego helped her grow up faster than her peers, and sometimes she feels she missed out on being just a regular teenager. As Sara says in her radio documentary, "When my mom was telling me her worries about Diego, inside I was like, 'why are you telling me this? I'm just a kid - why should I have to worry too?' But instead I just let my mom talk."

Growing Up in The System - Shirley "Star" Diaz, Manhattan
Shirley Diaz's life has been shaped by the tragedy of her mother's murder, and the difficulty of growing up in six different foster homes, separated from her six younger siblings. To avoid being consumed by loss, Shirley tries to make sense of these events and find refuge in home and family as she finds them.

World Trade Center Montage
On October 13, 2001, a montage of the Radio Rookies commentaries about the World Trade Center tragedy and its aftermath aired on WNYC.

Teen Issues

Parenting Pointers - Carlos "Chico" Gonzalez, Mosholu
Chico loves his parents, but thinks they can learn a few things about parenting - from him. Chico thinks since he's a teen, he knows how best to parent teens. Chico's come up with some pointers for parents, and explores them in his story.

Romantic Obsession - Catalina, "Cat" Puente, Mosholu
When Cat finds herself obsessing over people she hardly knows but is smitten with (like celebrities), she realizes it takes over her life. She'll spend hours each day daydreaming about them, or writing about them. She gets irrational, her personality changes, and the object of her obsession takes over her focus. Cat's story is about how romantic obsession almost ruined her life. Aggression - Derrick "Honeybun" Hewitt, Mosholu Fourteen-year-old Derrick can be pretty aggressive. A big part of why Derrick loves football is that he can hit people -- without getting in trouble. At home, Derrick gets in trouble a lot, and this often leads him to fight with his brothers.

We have stories to tell! - Amina Tariq, Elmhurst
Amina isn't proud of it, but she readily admits that she gossips a lot. Like the girls in the movie Mean Girls, Amina and her friends do it all the time ­ she jokingly says it's like "Muslim Girls Gone Wild." But even though everyone is doing it, Amina starts to feel conflicted about the amount of time she spends talking about other people. She sees that even with the microphone out and minidisk rolling, she and her friends don't stop. She also comes to realize that she herself is a target. Amina sets out to find out what it all means.

The Internet Bug - Yesica Balderrama, Elmhurst
Like a lot of teenagers, Yesica has spent hours and hours online, mostly chatting to her friends, some of whom lived only blocks away. Sometimes she found she couldn't stop herself from logging on, even when, hours later, she'd log off feeling like she'd been in a trance. Yesica knew she wasn't actually addicted to the internet, but she decided to take a closer look at what was driving this exhausting need.

What about Me, Uncle Sam? - Christian, New Brighton
Every day on his way to school, Christian passes a group of men lined up for work on the street. Most of them are undocumented Mexican immigrants -- just like him -- without any pathway to legal citizenship. Christian is 15 years-old and grew up in New York City. For teens like him it can be hard to keep going to classes, knowing that without permanent resident status, the jobs and opportunities they seek will be closed to them. Some of the immigration reform legislation currently being debated in Congress, known as The Dream Act, contains provisions for kids like Christian--who have spent the majority of their lives in the US-- to gain their citizenship through completion of college or military service. And even with all the grim risks of war, Christian's best hope might be the Army.

Feeling Ugly Inside - Marie Stephen, New Brighton
When Marie resolved to lose 40 pounds last summer, she thought that would be the end of her struggles with self-esteem. But after exercising and dieting her way to a slimmer figure, she has found her confidence much slower to improve. Tracing the sources of her self image, Marie has found answers and also questions.

The Second Mom - Sara Martinez, New Brighton
Sara Martinez assumes a lot of responsibility in her family. She helps her parents, who are from Mexico, with household chores and serves as their bridge to the English-speaking world. She also looks after her three younger siblings, including her youngest brother, Diego, who was born with autism. Sara knows that taking care of Diego helped her grow up faster than her peers, and sometimes she feels she missed out on being just a regular teenager. As Sara says in her radio documentary, "When my mom was telling me her worries about Diego, inside I was like, 'why are you telling me this? I'm just a kid - why should I have to worry too?' But instead I just let my mom talk."

One Atheist, 14 Catholics - Sonia Ponce, New Brighton
Sonia first learned about Darwin in junior high school. The theory of evolution made sense to Sonia and she began to question everything she'd been taught previously by the church and her devoutly Catholic mother. Four years later, Sonia is the only atheist among her parent's 13 children-a fact that often leaves her feeling misunderstood and tired of explaining that just because she doesn't believe in God, she doesn't worship the devil. Sonia's documentary delves into the religious and cultural split that divides her from her family, especially her parents: "They grew up on little farms [in Mexico] with no running water and wooden floors. My dad started herding goats and cows when he was five years old. It was hard to survive and go to school. My mom went to school through the first grade and can only write her name."

Growing Up in The System - Shirley "Star" Diaz, Manhattan
Shirley Diaz's life has been shaped by the tragedy of her mother's murder, and the difficulty of growing up in six different foster homes, separated from her six younger siblings. To avoid being consumed by loss, Shirley tries to make sense of these events and find refuge in home and family as she finds them.

Group Home - Krystle Monclova, Manhattan
14-year-old Krystle has been living in a group home in Manhattan since last summer. She never expected to wind up in "the system," but when conflicts between Krystle and her mother reached a boiling point she found herself separated from her family. In her radio story, Krystle documents what life is like in the group home and how she might be able to move back to her family.

Legal Emancipation - Jordan Teklay, Manhattan
Two years ago, at 15, Jordan Teklay became legally emancipated from his parents and moved on his own from California to New York City. Since then, he has been learning to juggle the responsibilities of work, school and taking care of himself. Emancipation has brought both freedom and hardship. Struggling to negotiate his path in the world, Jordan is trying to understand what it means to be an adult.

Subways- Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Graduate Rookie
The New York City subway system is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Midwood Radio Rookie Samr "Rocky" Tayeh reports on what subways mean to teenagers in the city.

Students Speak Out - Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Graduate Rookie
Radio Rookie Rocky Tayeh reports on the City Council's latest effort to improve education in NYC - a hearing held especially for students to testify about the state of their schools.

Rookie Reports on Summer Jobs - Shakima Swain, Graduate Rookie
Lower East Side Rookie Shakima Swain reports on the state of teen summer jobs.

Advice to the Mayor - Jesus Gonzalez, Graduate Rookie
Bushwick Rookie Jesus Gonzalez (with reporting help from Hunts Point Rookie Janesse Nieves) advises Mayor Bloomberg on how to improve New York City schools. His report draws a response from former public advocate Mark Green.

World Trade Center Montage
On October 13, 2001, a montage of the Radio Rookies commentaries about the World Trade Center tragedy and its aftermath aired on WNYC.

Activism - Marisa Day, St. George
Marisa, leftist teen activist, tries to start a youth activism group on Staten Island and learns a few things about what does and doesn't sway the conservative masses.

Dropping Out - Rafael (Macho) Lopez Bushwick
Macho dropped out of school when he was 16. Now, three years later, he looks at the reasons why he dropped out and thinks about his future.

Fashion Obsession - Shakima Ebony Swain, Lower East Side
Since she was little, Shakima has been dressing in style. She is proud of her fashion sense, but finds that as her family's finances have changed, it's been harder to keep up with the name brands she adores.

Gay and Lesbian Teens - Kady Bulnes, Harlem
Kady asks what's it like to be a gay or lesbian teenager in Harlem. Kady went to a Harlem AIDS clinic and discovered there were scant other resources for gays and lesbians in Harlem.

Grafitti Hall of Fame - Jimmy Belfon Jr., Harlem
Jimmy's report is on the Graffiti Hall of Fame, which covers the walls of his school playground. Jimmy asks listeners to look more closely at graffiti and think about where to draw the line between art and vandalism.

Guns - Jesus Gonzalez, Bushwick
No one under the age of 21 is allowed to buy a gun in New York City. But Jesus says, many of the teenagers in his Brooklyn neighborhood have guns.

In-your-face Parents - Heidi Choe, Flushing
Heidi Choe's parents pay attention to her -- A LOT of attention. She thinks in-your-face parenting can be overdone.

Me and Junior - Michael Lewis, Midwood
Michael, seventeen, has idolized his older brother, Junior, his entire life and has followed him into everything -- good and bad, but mostly bad. Junior, who recently got arrested and spent months in jail, insists that Michael stay in school but doesn't do much to give Michael a positive example. Michael questions whether he can, or even wants to, separate enough from his brother and their friends to change his ways.

My Struggle with Obesity - Samr "Rocky" Tayeh, Midwood
Fifteen-year old Rocky, a Palestinian American, lives with his parents and siblings in Brooklyn. Rocky's story is about his emotional struggle with obesity. Nearly three times the size of his twin sister, Rocky is the target of many of his siblings' jokes and insults. Rocky earnestly wants to slim down but doesn't know how to control his eating.

Nothing To Do in Bushwick - Jose Lopez, Bushwick
Are there enough free things for kids to do after school where you live? Jose reports on how little there is for kids to do in Bushwick and what he's doing about it.

Stress After 9/11 - Jacky Monterosso, St. George
Since September 11th, Jacky has noticed that confusion and anxiety has seeped into the everyday lives of Staten Island teens -- including her own. But in her search for ways to 'deal,' she finds adults 'missing in action' and some friends less ready to help than she expected.

Suicide - Linda Cuevas, Bushwick
Linda was 14 when she spent two weeks in a mental hospital after attempting suicide. Now, three years later, you can hear her story and share your own.

Teasing - Brittany Hill, Lower East Side
Being called "burger" has made fourteen year old Brittany mad and sad. Even though she knows how bad teasing makes her feel, Brittany admits she does it too. Everyone seems to tease. In her story, Brittany's classmates talk about teasing in their school, and adults give her advice - she even gets some counsel from talk show host Ricki Lake!

Teen Rights - Alena Kuczynski, Lower East Side
Alena's parents let her make a lot of her own decisions, but when Alena leaves her apartment she feels less free. She feels discriminated against because of her age. Alena is fourteen and frustrated by laws that say she can't vote, drink or drive.

Timmy - Jonathan Fauske, St. George
Jonathan looks at the challenges of being an older brother to someone with Down Syndrome. And just being an older brother ...

Tracking - Jaimita Haskell, St. George
When Jaimita got bumped up into a more advanced high school program, all the books were brand new and the students listened politely to each other. Then, because of overcrowding, she got dropped back into the relative chaos of mainstream classes. In the course of reporting on it, Jaimita surprises herself and her principal.

Virginity - Carmen Mojica, Hunts Point
Carmen wants to stay a virgin until she gets married. But TV, music and peer pressure all seem to be conspiring against her.