Dear Santa,

I know it's been a while, so this is probably a surprise for you. After all, I am in college -- kind of old to be writing a letter to the legendary Santa Claus. Well, I'm writing this letter to tell you what I want for Christmas. Usually, I don't have a list; when people ask me what I want, I normally shrug and say nothing. I know how unhelpful that is, but what can I say? This year, I do have a list. And you're Santa.

Well, here it goes:

This Christmas, my wish is that privileged people will stop shutting our borders to those who need our help. Millions of refugees arrive in Europe and the United States every day from their war-torn homeland, often arriving with little but the clothes on their backs. We should be welcoming these lost and confused individuals with open arms and love. Instead, we decide to put a cap on the number of people we are willing to save because of politics and bias. Isn't that sad, Santa? That politics and ignorant biases have become more important than human life? I think it is. I wish that nations would reopen their borders, along with their hearts.

The next thing I know you can't do anything about for the past year, so this wish is really meant to be for next year: I wish that in America, citizens and human life take precedent over lobbyists and the ever-misunderstood Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights. Santa, there have been more mass shootings this year in America than days in the year! How can people argue against gun reform when that is the case? A lot of misguided people claim that it is an American right to own a gun, which is true, but life is also an American right, and let's agree that to the people who lost that right to gun violence this year the latter is of more importance than the former. My wish for next year, Santa, is that policymakers start paying more attention to those individuals than to the organizations and lobbyists who refuse to acknowledge the cause of the problem.

My third Christmas wish is that people can feel accepted and appreciated, as well as know their importance, regardless of their identity. I've noticed in the past year how different groups of people are treated by society based on their identities, and that has made me really sad, so I want you to try and fix that, Santa. Even in America, there have been countless accounts of individuals of minorities being mistreated by, discriminated against, and systematically targeted by society because of who they are. My wish this Christmas is that our society is able to put differences aside, while still respecting and appreciating them. I want it to not matter if someone is black, white, straight, gay, gender non conforming, male or female. I want to be able to celebrate differences among people while at the same time, not use those differences as an excuse to mistreat people.

Not to be greedy, but I also wish that the condition of the earth will be addressed more by people around the world. Santa, I think that one can make the comparison between the earth and our bodies: Just like our bodies, the earth we have now is the only one we are going to get. We should be doing everything in our power to protect it but we are destroying it. And while farmers burn acres of rain forest and factories release fossil fuels into the atmosphere, people just argue about how to fix the problem rather than take any action. So I hope that next year inaction will turn into action.

Also, for Christmas I hope that people will realize that one radical terrorist organization acting in the name of a religion is not representative of an entire religion. The Islamic State has become quite powerful in the past year, unleashing a reign of terror on the Middle East as well as the rest of the world. I fear that, because the these extremist killers claim to be acting in the name of Islam, Muslims around the world will be targeted by people claiming their terrorists. I am afraid that misunderstandings and ignorance will mesh with fear in the most awful way, which will result in a false generalization of an entire religion. Please don't let that happen, Santa.

If you'll let me, I need to ask you for one more thing: I wish that all people will become more compassionate and understanding. I wish that people will learn how to sacrifice their comfort and happiness for that of their neighbors, friends, family, and fellow citizens of the world like we once did. I hope that with this newly founded compassion, understanding, and self sacrifice for the greater good that peace will once again cover the earth. That would be ultimate Christmas gift this year.

I know that, although small in number, I am asking a lot of you, but the world needs help this Christmas, Santa. You used to fill the cold December air with warmth and you made me believe in the magic of Christmas. That's why I am asking you to help grant me my wishes this Christmas: I need you to spread the magic of Christmas, and in doing so, you will also spread the magic of humanity and love around the world.

Trust me, we need it.