Logan, my 16 year-old son, has pursued his passion to become a pilot this last year. To help pay for that he's been working part-time at local restaurants since he was 14. Today he woke up at 3:30 AM so he could be in Omaha competing with his high school's Show Choir.
I bring this up not because I'm a proud Dad (although I am) but because many of my son's friends are just like him. Hard working and committed to reaching their full potential. This next generation of kids is promising and we're going to be better off with them.
I'm disappointed when adults use tired out cliche of "kids these days" or "this younger generation doesn't know how to work hard". I look at all the problems of today and as far as I can tell, these kids didn't cause it. My hope for tomorrow is embedded more with the next generation and less with us old folks. It will soon be time to step aside and let the new generation lead.