In honor of Radio Rookies 10 year anniversary, another "where are they now?" update from a former Radio Rookie. Jordan Teklay was the first teenager to ever come to the program with a passion for radio already instilled. In fact, Jordan loved radio so much, at 15 he became legally emancipated from his parents and moved on his own from California to New York to try to make it as the next shock jock. He finished his Radio Rookies story three years ago and since then he’s been doing everything possible to get back on the air, like spending hours refining and sending out audition tapes.

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Radio Rookies, we're bringing you updates from Rookies whose stories aired years ago. Jesus Gonzalez and Jose Lopez were in one of the earliest Rookies workshops, in 2001. At the time, they were working as youth organizers at the community group Make the Road New York in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Almost a decade has passed and they're still there. But their group has grown to more than 70 young members.

Today we hear from Samr “Rocky” Tayeh, who first went on the radio in 2003 to report on his life as an obese teenager. Since then, Rocky had weight loss surgery and dropped 300 pounds. Now he’s trying out some of the things that were impossible for someone so overweight, like learning how to ride a bike.

Ten years ago WNYC’s Radio Rookies program began putting microphones in the hands of New York City teenagers to help them tell their own stories on the air. Linda Lee reported on her dream of being a TV news anchor. Listen to what happened next. Often the Radio Rookies program sparks an interest in broadcast journalism. For former Rookie Linda Lee, it confirmed her dream of becoming a TV news anchor—just like her hero at the time, WPIX’s Kaity Tong. Linda has since graduated from college and is working in TV news, just not in front of the camera.

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

WNYC’s Marianne McCune started Radio Rookies, is now the series' editor and she's also the host of the special. She joins me now with this look back.

Rocky didn't hide in a corner and wait for the bullying to stop when he was a kid, he learned how to use his sharp tongue to shut other kids down, but sometimes he takes it too far.

For Jesus, it’s one of those nights when you’re young that almost sends your life in an entirely different direction. This is a story about the most basic kind of survival.

"We go together like mac n' cheese."

In honor of unrequited love, Radio Rookie Keith Harris shares a story about an all-consuming, exhilarating, and over-the-top high school crush. 

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.

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. 

Midwood Graduate Rookie Michael Lewis comments on the war in Iraq. He had opposed it all along -- until he saw something on TV that made him stop and think.

Rocky has lost a lot of weight due to the lap band surgery. Yet while those numbers make it seem like a quick fix, choosing and living with weight loss surgery can be anything but.

Graduate Rookie Reporter Veralyn Williams first began questioning the use of the N-word when she started studying African American history in college.

Ten years ago my high school was rated one of the twelve most dangerous in New York City. Back when I was in junior high I heard it was still like that, that people got stabbed, jumpe...

Midwood has a growing Muslim immigrant community. Three Muslim boys from the Midwood workshop, two Pakistani and one Palestinian, reflect on what it's like for them living in America.

Eighteen year-old Radio Rookie Shakima Swain - a first time voter - finds out what it means to be a Republican at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City.

For Father's Day, 24-year-old Janelle contemplates how different these two holidays are in her household.

Bushwick Rookie Jesus Gonzalez (with reporting help from Hunts Point Rookie Janesse Nieves) advises Mayor Bloomberg on how to improve New York City schools. 

Right after Graduate Radio Rookie Janelle gives birth, she calls out to her mom for the tape-recorder. 

13-year-old Desmond was born with AIDS in Botswana. 15-year-old Radio Rookie Antoine Bazilio recorded this interview with Desmond during the UN AIDS conference in New York.

The Rookies share their thoughts about the World Trade Center tragedy of September 11th.