Alaysia honored with the 2026 MISTI Ambassador Award

Alaysia Stone, a graduating senior in Course 6, is one of few students who has participated in all of the MISTI programs. Her global experiences include interning and attending a Global Classroom in Spain, studying abroad at Imperial College London where she studied computer science and traveled all over the UK with the Imperial women’s soccer team, and teaching in Santiago, Chile, where she taught introductory Python courses to high school students.

Alaysia has embraced every opportunity available to her, fully immersing herself in each community she joins. On campus, Alaysia is an exceptional spokesperson for MISTI. She actively shares the program’s impact through events and outreach, inspiring fellow students to pursue international experiences.

She was awarded the 2026 MISTI Ambassador Award for her positive attitude, adaptability, and deep commitment to global experiential learning at MIT.

1. Why did you include MISTI in your 4-year journey at MIT? 
From a young age, I knew I wanted to study abroad in college. I didn’t know anyone who had done it, but the idea of living in another country — not just visiting as a tourist — felt like an incredible opportunity. What I didn’t expect were all the additional ways to go abroad: teaching, working, and doing research. Each of those experiences turned out to be just as meaningful in its own way.

2. How did MISTI complement your studies at MIT?
MISTI gave me the chance to explore my research interests while also exploring the world. Almost everything I did abroad connected back to my major and helped me see computer science from different angles. 

My first experience — doing AI research in Spain — let me fully focus on research in a way that a UROP during the school year hadn’t, and it eventually led to a publication. That process was incredibly educational and sparked my interest in academia.

Later, teaching computer science to high school students in Chile deepened my appreciation for educators and was especially rewarding — I got to design my own curriculum and watch my students learn and grow over time. Finally, studying abroad at Imperial College London not only gave me the chance to take classes I wouldn’t have otherwise, but also opened my eyes to the possibility of continuing my studies in Europe.

3. How can someone in your major benefit from doing MISTI? 
While anyone can benefit from doing MISTI, I think those doing computer science can uniquely benefit because the exchange offerings (ICL and ETH) are some of the best schools in the world that also happen to be located in such amazing cities. Also, they offer many courses in CS that MIT doesn’t offer, but I found them to be incredibly interesting. Software jobs can often be done remotely, so even if someone ends up working with a US company, perhaps their time abroad in MISTI can still lead to them living abroad.

4.If someone is hesitant about doing MISTI, what would you tell them?
I’d tell them to just go for it — it really could end up being one of the best experiences they’ll have. 

Through MISTI, I’ve met incredible people I never would have crossed paths with otherwise, many of whom are now some of my closest friends. I’ve also had the chance to truly live in and experience cultures across Europe and South America, which has made me appreciate how much the world has to offer — and how much more there is to see.

These experiences are not only academically valuable, but also deeply impactful for personal growth. Living abroad isn’t always comfortable, but I’ve found that pushing yourself outside your comfort zone is where the most growth happens. Honestly, it feels like a missed opportunity to spend four years at MIT without taking advantage of what MISTI has to offer

5.What’s next for you, and how did MISTI influence your path?
MISTI completely changed how I see life and what I want mine to look like. Stepping outside the bubble of not just MIT, but the US as a whole, was truly eye-opening. Every place has its flaws, of course, but experiencing such different cultures pushed me to think more deeply about what I value.

In the long term, I’d love to pursue a PhD and do research at the intersection of medicine/biology and AI/computer science. 

Because of MISTI, I can genuinely see myself studying — or even living — abroad again. And even if I don’t, I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences and memories I’ve gained along the way.