THE most exciting part of Christmas for most young people is often the thought of waking up on the day with a big pile of presents waiting to be torn open, under the tree, but does that make us selfish?
Top researchers have discovered the spiritual and religious meanings to Christmas are slowly slipping into the background of our celebrations and expensive gifts are number one on the list of priorities, with an average family spending £112.50 per child in 2011.
According to National Survey results show most parents feel they are raising selfish children and with the meaning of Christmas becoming more about expensive presents than the birth of Jesus Christ, you might even agree.
However, each year I witness hundreds of young people embrace seasonal generosity by carrying out a rather selfless act, one that makes an underprivileged child's Christmas full of as much hope and joy as their own.
Last year alone nearly 1.1 million shoeboxes packed with the simplest of gifts were donated to The Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child – a vast amount of them by young people.
A small toy, some crayons, a colouring book and a few essential health items is all a box might contain yet the sheer thought, effort and time taken to fill one in order to change a Child's Christmas is substantial and the difference it makes is amazing.
So where has this stereotype come from?
Is it simply because teenagers don't always think about communicating with adults, they assume we are too busy thinking of ourselves?
Or is it that we are the most spoilt of all generations so far in terms of expensive labelled clothing and Christmas gifts, that we give off the impression that we are all "me, me, me'"?
Operation Christmas Child is just one of many good causes young people contribute to in my own and other schools around Britain and after collecting as many as 100 shoeboxes in my school alone after barely a month, it is clear that the perception that all teenagers are "out for themselves" is far from the truth.
These shoeboxes go out to about 12 different under-developed countries each year and the poor children that receive one have often never had anything to call their own in their entire life.
Just a few months ago, many young people took part in Operation Lifestyle, most of them dedicating their whole summer holidays to making other people's lives better. And about a month before that thousands of youngsters across Britain ran, walked or jogged 5km to raise money in an attempt to help people with cancer.
Anyone can put a pound in a charity pot or text a fiver from the comfort of their own home, and although this is probably much appreciated and in most cases the money goes an incredibly long way to helping the vulnerable people shown in so many television appeals, actually putting together a box full of presents for someone less unfortunate requires the donator to think about what that child would enjoy and what would make a difference to them.
When people donate to Operation Christmas Child, they know their personally created gift is definitely going to reach those who need it, they know that when that shoebox is given to a child they'll almost certainly cherish that day for the rest of their lives.
The internet defines Christmas as being a time for "love, peace, giving and sharing" and by donating to Operation Christmas Child and taking part in all the other charitable events, young people prove year after year that we have just as much interest in giving as we do receiving!
To find your nearest shoebox drop off point visit: http://www.operation christmaschild.org.uk/locate
