Will Karina Noriega become the youngest woman to see all 193 UN countries?

Karina Noriega got a taste for adventure jumping out of an airplane and climbing active volcanoes as a 10-year-old girl in her native Guatemala.

Now 31, Noriega hopes to be the youngest woman in the world to visit all 193 United Nations countries.

But she needs your votes to do it.

The McMaster graduate and Hamilton resident entered the contest Global Degree, offering an all-expenses paid trip around the world.

World travellers Michael Graziano and Alex Hennessy document their adventures to Global Degree viewers as they seek to become the youngest men from North America to visit every country.

'Travel is the single biggest thing in my life that has taught me about my potential.'- Karina Noriega

The two Vancouver buddies behind the YouTube travel show are offering up a dream vacation for one lucky female traveller who will join their globetrotting mission.

Just like a university degree, the concept of Global Degree is that travel will provide an education about yourself and the world around you.

To get your degree, you must complete all 193 countries.

"Travel is the single biggest thing in my life that has taught me about my potential and my capacity for positive impact," said Noriega, who moved to Hamilton from Guatemala in 2001.

"My family uprooted from a highly conservative culture to freedoms, safety and home of the world's most liberal attitudes," she says in her contest entry video.

Sold all her possessions and packed her bags

After graduating McMaster's neuroscience and behaviour program in 2011, Noriega worked in Hamilton's social services field, helping those with acquired brain injuries.

Last year, wanderlust led Noriega to sell off all her belongings, and leave Hamilton to see the world.

So far she's visited 40 countries, which included hitch hiking across Europe, surviving a monsoon in Bangladesh and learning to drive a motorcycle in Vietnam.

"There's so many places I haven't seen yet," she said.

After hearing about the Global Degree opportunity on Hostel World, an online community for backpackers, she knew she had to apply.

"Travel is the best way to get to know yourself. You learn through overcoming obstacles in trouble and learn to rely on yourself," she said.

"Most of us only know about the world from what we hear or what we see in the media or general stereotypes. The truth is we can only learn so much even from our own research. You only learn about a place by visiting it and you never know what you might learn," she said.

'You only learn about a place by visiting it and you never know what you might learn'- Karina Noriega

"I want to go to places the most beyond my understanding."

To save money while travelling, Noriega has learned to make friends, immersing herself in cultures and often staying in the homes of people she just met.

"Absolutely it's terrifying sometimes, but I don't want to be a person who is dominated by fear," she said.

Inspiring others to follow their dreams

Noriega keeps a blog where she shares tips for travellers through videos, photographs and inspiring stories.

"I find the best way that I can inspire others, especially women to follow through with their travel dreams, is to show them by doing," she said.

Winning a Global Degree would inspire women who have a similar dream to make a difference and see the world, she said.

"I want whoever wins this contest to be a person who who will represent women in a strong, confident way. It's a huge opportunity to be a leader for women who have been told they can't be somebody or who wants to stand up for all people to be a positive force," she said.

Needs votes to win

Noregia is one of 66 finalists, and needs "Facebook likes" on her application video before the deadline on Sunday.

Determining factors to choose a winner includes social media shares and comments made by viewers.

A live video feed on the Global Degree website will announce a winner on Sunday Feb. 15.

The winner will join the two men from Vancouver setting out on a four-year long dream vacation to every UN country across the globe.

"I think my message is greater than winning this contest. I will continue my mission regardless because I truly feel it's important to inspire people to seek out their own path," she said.