This year I decided not to ask for anything for Christmas. I know what you're thinking--this girl is a CRAZY person. While that is true, it's not for the reason you're probably thinking.

It all started when my friends were asking each other what they wanted for Christmas from their parents. Genuinely unsure of my answer I sat and listened to the materialistic list they had come up with. They named the price and designer or brand and when my turn came, I froze. For some reason, I couldn't come up with a single gift that I felt I couldn't live without.

It dawned on me that the reason I felt this way was that the more I grow up the more I realize that the things I want aren't things. During this age, we struggle with being forced to pick a path and decide what our future entails and while material items are nice, a Louis Vuitton bag isn't going to advance me or my life or help me on my journey of self-discovery.

It's not that I shame people for getting lavish presents during the holidays because I've been one of them, but I will say that it's just not what I want under my tree.This year I want a much different set of presents and they aren't ones that have to come from anyone or have a price tag on them. I want to pursue my passions, find a major I'm happy with, do things I've never done before that scare me. Most importantly I want time with the people that matter to me the most.

So this Christmas I'll go home, get forced to take the signature picture of me and my siblings on the stairs, watch "A Christmas Story" and I'll open presents, but instead they will just be an addition to my holiday. And when I wake up on Christmas morning this year I'll be waking up for a different, more fulfilling reason.