A few days ago (last Wednesday to be exact), I decided to drive cross-country from Florida to California. I wanted to reflect on 2011 and dream about 2012 while passing through undiscovered places. If it isn't obvious yet, I'm an adventurous person (and equally sentimental) so, ending the year this way was the poetry I needed to ring in a new year.

As I started on the trip down memory lane and across highway 40, I realized that 2011 was the best year of my life so far. Becoming the first ever UN youth champion was just the permission slip I needed to travel the world with my best friend & become the person I always was, but at times was afraid to be.  Unfortunately, the UN's budget couldn't support my ambition, but the experience I had and the other support they offered was invaluable!

When we left for the 6-month trip, we had 1 plane ticket in hand and only a few weeks planned. When we landed back in the US at the end of July 2011, I'd visited every continent, 24 countries, and thousands of youth.

Looking back:

Thailand was one of my favorite places, Nairobi felt like going home, and Bangladesh left the most lasting impression. Sleeping at the Kakuma Refugee Camp, visiting girls who'd been rescued from trafficking in the Philippines, and the boys in Colombia who were no longer involved with conflict, gave me hope for a better future. Seeing a woman begging with no arms in Bangladesh, learning about female feticide in India, and the family I saw in plain view from my window that slept outside while I was in my comfortable bed in Delhi, all broke my heart.

Every day presented a new adventure, a life lesson, a painful reality, or something to smile about. It didn't matter if I was in China or Chile, Africa or Australia, the world was waiting to teach me things. I took thousands of photos to try & share the experience, but the strongest-most powerful images are the ones that live in my memory.

The second half of the year was entirely different, but also very exciting. I didn't anticipate the number of people who would be interested in the trip. I told stories of my travels and participated in events at the UN Headquarters, USAid, UNFoundation, UNFPA, US State Dept, and so many others! With all my diplomatic duties, I almost forgot that I was an actress - I said almost :)

In the final months of 2011, I interviewed the Secretary General of the United Nations, launched an app with the legendary Stevie Wonder, hosted a red carpet for Virgin Unite, sat next to Michael Douglas on a panel about peace, and if that wasn't enough; I got to meet "the queen" aka Oprah (my greatest role model).

I learned that the world really is ours to inhabit, and the lines that divide are invisible. This generation of youth has the power to end extreme poverty, abolish violence against women, and reverse global warming. They just have to believe they can.

Thoughts for 2012:

Believe that anything is possible and that you deserve all of the good coming to you. Believe that everything you need is already inside of you. You simply need to awaken to your own potential and put action to your ideas.

Don't sit on your ideas waiting for them to be perfect, or for someone to tell you what to do - start now. Wake up everyday and do 1 thing that draws you closer to your goal.

Be who you really are, not who you think you should be. Let go of things that no longer serve you & make room for what you really want. Be brave.  Be happy. Be YOU.

My sincere wish for YOU in 2012 is more laughter than you can hold, all the love and support that you need, and the courage to walk in your purpose.

In health & happiness,

• The Spot