Hope for the future

Today, I was having a conversation with my Junior English class on what it means to be an American and I was totally amazed at the point of view they shared.  For the past few years, I have been of the opinion that this generation simply wanted everything handed to them.  I have felt as if they did not want to work for anything and the world owned it to them to provide what was needed.  They have just always seemed very lazy to me.  But today, my students renewed my faith in old time American values:  Hard Work.  I feel hopeful for my future as an American if their counterparts felt this was as well.  I can only hope.