From Riyadh to Barcelona: Mike’s Journey of Growth, Independence, and Discovery
“Saying goodbye to my parents was very hard. When I got on the plane, my mind went blank.”
Leaving home is never just a physical act. It is an emotional threshold—one that marks the beginning of transformation.
For Mike Merhi, a 20-year-old Bachelor of Business Administration and Digital Innovation student at GBSB Global, studying abroad began with a moment of silence, somewhere between fear and excitement.
Raised in Riyadh and rooted in Lebanon, Mike grew up between two worlds: the energy of a global city and the quiet strength of mountain life. But when it came time to choose where to study, he made a deliberate decision:
“I wanted something new—a new language, a new culture, a completely different lifestyle.”
Barcelona became that choice.
Learning to Be Alone—and Then Not
Arriving in Spain was not easy. For a time, Mike was completely on his own.
“The hardest part was the loneliness, but calling my parents and friends and listening to music from home made me feel like I wasn’t completely alone.”
Step by step, things changed. New faces became friends. The unfamiliar became routine.
“At first, it felt heavy, but now I go in and say hi to everyone. It’s a very nice feeling.”
Growing into Himself
Three years later, Mike is clear about what this experience has given him.
“I’ve grown a lot—I’m more calm, more mature, and wiser.”
Living independently taught him more than any textbook: how to take responsibility, how to adapt, how to understand others—especially his own family.
“Now I understand how much my parents did for me.”
An Experience Worth Taking
For Mike, studying abroad is not just an academic decision—it is a life decision.
“It’s an opportunity that many people never had. You should take it—100%.”
And if you ask him to rate the experience?
“Studying abroad: 10. Barcelona: 10. GBSB: 10.”
Watch the full interview