In a country where securing admission to prestigious institutions like IITs and IIMs is often considered the ultimate academic achievement, leaving one midway is an unusual decision.
A 19-year-old former IIT Delhi student has grabbed attention online after revealing why he chose to leave the institute and start working at Microsoft instead.
Ashish Kumar Verma shared his journey in a LinkedIn post that has now gone viral, sparking discussions about whether practical experience can sometimes outweigh a traditional university degree.
Chose an Unconventional Career Path
Verma revealed that he joined Microsoft at the age of 19, even before he was legally old enough to drink in many countries. He described his decision as unconventional but said it was based on a clear understanding of what he wanted from his career.
According to him, not every student follows the same path. While some join college to discover their interests and explore different career options, others already know what they want to achieve and prefer to begin building their careers immediately.
He said he belonged to the second category, adding that he had already achieved several milestones before leaving college. At the age of 18, he became the world's youngest Google Developer Expert. He also took part in Japan's Sakura Science Programme and presented an app to PM Modi.
Why Microsoft Was the Right Choice
Verma explained that Microsoft appealed to him because it offered direct access to some of the world's leading software engineers and creators, rather than because of its global reputation. 'I didn't join for the badge. I joined because every rockstar I wanted to learn from was one ping away,' he wrote.
He added that working at Microsoft allows him to interact with the creators of technologies such as C#, TypeScript and Kub engine, giving him access to ideas and knowledge that cannot simply be found online. 'AI execution can be done, but ideas, creativity and taste come from these people who actually know what's going on,' he added.
Advice for Young Developers
Sharing a message for aspiring developers, Verma encouraged people who already know what they want to create to start working on their ideas instead of waiting for degrees or official recognition. 'Hey, let's make an LLM technology will not ask for your Bachelors, Masters, PhD to access knowledge, so if you wanna build, just build,' he said.
He also challenged the belief that people following unconventional careers lack opportunities. In his view, the internet, AI tools and online communities have made learning and networking more accessible than ever before. 'The system isn't built for people who want to take an unconventional path' this isss suchh a big lie on the internet… stop blaming the system, get out and experiment,' he wrote.
A Growing Shift in Career Choices
Verma's story reflects a changing mindset among many young professionals in India. Instead of focusing only on prestigious degrees, an increasing number of Gen Z learners are placing greater importance on practical skills, real-world experience, strong professional networks and building innovative projects.
His journey has sparked debate on social media about whether traditional education should always be the only route to success, especially in the rapidly evolving technology industry where skills and experience are becoming increasingly valuable.