In his famous song “New York, New York,” Frank Sinatra sings, “If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere.” What do you think he meant?

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New York City has many nicknames: Big Apple, Gotham City, and The City That Never Sleeps. Do you know any other? The name that might best describe NYC is The City of Dreams.

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Since the first European immigrants came to the U.S. via New York in the 1600s, millions of people from around the world have dreamt of building a better life, becoming famous, or earning their fortune in NYC.

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NYC has always been a magnet for people with many different backgrounds Forty percent of NYC’s residents were born outside of the U.S and countless artists, entrepreneurs, inventors, and people who dream of changing the world flock to New York every year. New York City welcomes them all. However, living in The City of Dreams isn’t a guarantee that dreams will come true. In fact, so many people come to live in NYC that it’s actually quite hard to make it here – that’s what Sinatra meant in his song.

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A hectic lifestyle, high rent, and tough competition against the best of the best in any field are realities all New Yorkers face. Yet NYC is full of art, universities, green spaces, museums, shops, people of all backgrounds, and more restaurants than you could visit in 12 years.

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As you walk around New York City, which nickname do you think fits it best? Do you think New York is still The City of Dreams? Discuss your thoughts with your parents.