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Related Pieces
Piece Description
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. HOST INTRO: Teenagers are famous for getting into conflicts with their parents over independence. Occasionally, that tension even leads to a separation of some kind--such as moving in with a relative or going into foster care. But Radio Rookie Jordan Teklay didn't want to be a part of anybody else's family. When the situation with his mom became unbearable, he sought his freedom through the courts.
Broadcast History
WNYC - February 25, 2008 (Morning Edition)
Transcript
REPORTER: Well this is me. Jordan Patrick Austin Teklay. (Spaz alert, spaz alert?). On my own like I always wanted to be (I?m losing my mind?), physically and financially. (Bills, bills, bills, bills?).
I landed in New York City two years ago, when I was 15. Imagine a skinny black kid getting off the Greyhound bus. In one hand, I had my emancipation papers. And in the other, a suitcase filled with my nicest jeans, my Nikes and my Jordans, and my retainers for my teeth.
I thought all I needed was 122% determination, a job?.and maybe someone to cut me a deal on the rent.
STUART: Well, Jordan had $200 on him when he moved in. And I just didn?t have the heart to take all of it.
REPORTER: That?s Stuart Charles Shenkman. His friends told him he was insane to rent a room to someone who was 15, but Stuart gave me a chance anyway.
STUART: Stop wai-ai-ai-ait, Mr. Postman?
REPOR...
Read the full transcript
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jocelyn rivera
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 04:48 PM | Permalink
:)
I chose this piece because I really liked how real and honest Jordan was I liked that’s he made himself so vulnerable and opened up to everyone and showed how difficult his mother is and how hard things were when he lived with his mom . I found it really interesting how he was emancipated at the age of 15 I didn't even know that that was even possible I thought you had to just wait until you were 18 to leave your parents. but one thing that I didn't understand was why he left his mom if there really didn't seem to be a real problem with the family it just seem like his mom was a little bit stressed out with raising to kids on her own and trying to make ends meet but I didn’t seem like Jordan was making it easy for her at all. But above all I think that Jordan became very responsible and grew up well on his own with the help from his roommate. I really liked how he made his piece and I enjoyed it a lot.