My Trip to France: How One Solo Journey Changed Everything

By: Zhen Tao

I didn’t know what to expect when I booked my ticket to France. All I knew was that I was going alone—to a country I’d never been to, for an international speaking event I wasn’t sure I was ready for. Just days before leaving, I was filled with anxiety: What if I couldn’t make it? What if I didn’t belong?

The trip didn’t start easy. My flight was delayed, then rescheduled. At one point, I genuinely thought I wouldn’t make it at all. But life has a funny way of working out. While waiting at the airport, I struck up a conversation with an American pilot. He told me stories about flying, travel, and life in the sky. We became friends. It was the first reminder that this world—while big—is also full of kind, generous people if you’re open to meeting them.

On the plane, I sat between two women. One was from the U.S., the other had moved from the U.S. to Italy. We talked the whole flight. They shared their love of travel, their life experiences, their lessons. And I realized then—how small my world had been, how little I really knew. That conversation opened something in me. It made me curious. Hungry for more.

Once I arrived in Paris and checked into the hotel, I started meeting people attending the same international speaking event. At first, I felt a little awkward—like I didn’t quite belong. But as we began talking and connecting, that awkwardness turned into excitement. We shared our stories, our goals, our dreams. Suddenly, I didn’t feel alone anymore.

But the biggest moment came on the day of the speeches. There were 130 speakers from all over the world. Everyone seemed so prepared. They had PowerPoints, QR codes, beautifully designed slides, and perfect delivery. I had… nothing.

Panic hit me. I felt embarrassed. I wanted to hide. But instead, I made a choice. During the lunch break, I ran back to my hotel room, opened my laptop, and created a simple PowerPoint. It wasn’t fancy. But it was mine. It was honest.

That afternoon, I was the first speaker up.

I took the stage and began to tell my story—about my immigration journey, the struggles with English, the people who didn’t believe in me, and how I rebuilt my life through hard work, belief, and persistence. I saw people’s faces change. They leaned in. Some nodded. Some cried. Afterward, they hugged me and said, “Your story moved me.”

That moment changed everything.

The next two days were filled with powerful talks. Speakers covered everything from healing childhood trauma to mastering money mindset, from self-awareness to innovation, from emotional health to artificial intelligence. But the common thread? Know yourself. Heal your wounds. Strengthen your inner world.

Only 89 of the 130 speakers ended up actually speaking. I was one of them. And even more importantly, I became part of a new community—a global group of leaders, speakers, and change-makers who now support each other, grow together, and dream even bigger.

After the event, I had a few days to explore Paris. At first, I had no idea where to go or how to get around. But strangers helped me—kind people who showed me where to buy train tickets, which direction to take, how to get to the museums, cathedrals, and riverfronts.

I saw painters on the street, musicians in the metro, and beautiful old buildings that looked like they belonged in paintings. I met a French man who asked me to be his girlfriend (I politely said no), but I appreciated his warmth and humor. I loved how people in Paris walked everywhere, took their time, enjoyed the moment. I loved the slower pace, the appreciation for beauty, and the feeling that art was everywhere.

And strangely, I felt at home.

I’ve always loved music and art. I love walking through cities that are alive with creativity. And in Paris, I realized something: this is the kind of life I want. A life with space to feel, to create, to be. A life filled with people who are kind, curious, and full of heart.

This trip gave me more than new friends and great memories. It gave me confidence. It gave me proof that I can walk into any room, any country, any challenge—and hold my own.

From now on, I’ve decided: I’ll visit a new country every year. I’ll share my story. I’ll speak on more stages. And I’ll keep discovering new corners of the world—and new parts of myself.

Because the truth is: we don’t grow by staying comfortable. We grow by stepping into the unknown.

And now I know—there’s nothing to fear.

Only more to become.

A picture from one of my strolls in Paris.