Hi Amy,
I teach as required basic course as well. Many of the students enter the course with negative attitudes because they are "forced" to be there and they see no value to what I am teaching.
I am like you in that I take their attitudes as a challenge and try to win them over to valuing what I am teaching through careful planning, examples, guest speakers and individual projects. They slowly start to see how they can be successful in the course, enjoy the material and have fun while learning. This is what makes it worthwhile.
Gary
