“The journey toward the dream is the most important thing.”

The New York Times had an article in February about The Great Gatsby and its impact on a group of students today. They talk about the American Dream, and what Gatsby's green light means to them personally: it might be Harvard, financial independence, or just making their parents proud.

Some educators say the best way to engage racially and ethnically diverse students in reading is with books that mirror their lives and culture. But others say that while a variety of literary voices is important, “Gatsby” — still required reading at half the high schools in the country — resonates powerfully among urban adolescents, many of them first- and second-generation immigrants, who are striving to ascend in 21st-century America.

You can view the whole article, "Gatsby's Green Light Beckons a New Set of Strivers," on the New York Times website.

What does the green light mean to you?