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In the 72nd edition of As We Leave 2026, Jiya Verma, a Y22 graduating from Statistics and Data Science, reflects on her journey from feeling lost and introverted to finally finding confidence and belonging at IIT Kanpur. Through clubs, friendships, late-night adventures, academic struggles, internships, and placements, she gradually became a version of herself she never expected. As she leaves behind a campus that became home, her story celebrates growth, courage, and the memories created between then and now.

Disclaimer:- The views presented below are the author’s own and are not in any manner representative of the views of Vox Populi as a body or IIT Kanpur in general. This is an informal account of the author’s experiences at IIT-K.

It feels strange writing about my life at IITK now, when just days ago, I was still living it. I’d probably describe it as a long car ride with some smooth roads, some bumps, a few wrong turns, and some beautiful ones. Somewhere along the way, through all the different phases of myself, I slowly changed in ways I never expected.

So, let’s take the ride?

Phase 1: The Complete Unknown Place

I reached IIT Kanpur through a terrible road with just sand everywhere, barely any concrete. You couldn’t even imagine that such a road would lead to a campus standing so grand and alive. The first thing I thought was “this place is basically a city”. Then we reached Hall 4, finished the formalities, and I remember sitting in the canteen just taking everything in. For someone as much of a homebody as me, it was my first time living away from my parents, my first hostel experience, everything felt huge.

In the initial days, I couldn’t even remember the way to my room or the mess sometimes. That’s how new and unfamiliar the place was to me.

Back then, I never stepped outside the hall alone. My life revolved around classes, labs, and occasionally some fun things like Freshers’, Treasure Hunt, fests and all. My first year pretty much went like this, me being completely introverted to both the place and the people around me.

The first time I went out by myself was at the end of first year. Just a walk to Mamma Mio for a shake… a casual walk that somehow made me confident enough to feel like a small part of something this big.

Phase 2: The Breakthrough?

When the second year started, I wanted to join clubs, but giving interviews or even talking to seniors felt way out of my league. Somehow though, I gathered the courage to interview for the two clubs I wanted the most, Fine Arts and GameDev. P.S. I love painting and gaming.

I honestly don’t even remember what I said in those interviews, but somehow I got in. Later I realized how chill the whole process actually was and how dramatically my anxious brain had built it up in my head.

Started going to the club meets n all knowing more people, opening up more and eventually I found the ones I wanted to be with. The ones that made my black n white life at IITK colorful.

I would call it the breakthrough of my introverted cocoon and the beginning of all my firsts

first night out, first party, first outing, first time getting caught on the rooftop, first date… everything.

Some of my favorite memories came from the most random nights of sitting in the club room for hours talking, painting, doing absolutely nothing productive, and then suddenly deciding to go to the Chocolate Room afterwards.

The golden time.

And academics?

Wo toh chal rhe the…like a car on a half-built road or a sine graph.

Phase 3: What? Time to Be Serious

The summer before third year was probably the most I studied in all four years. My car was running on full throttle. DSA, Analytics, Aptitude, courses, projects, intern prep everything, everywhere, all at once. I could see the entire campus studying crazily for what was about to come next “The Intern Season”. The reason I came here in the first place, to someday see myself sitting in a shiny glass building with a cup of coffee beside a desktop.

But once the “season” officially began, the grimness of the situation became clearer and clearer. Shortlists, multiple assessments, classes, a zero-brake situation. I had given so many tests that after a point I completely lost track of how many. Soon interview lists started coming out. My name wasn’t there. Checking again and again, still no name just constantly giving tests and trying not to lose hope. Then finally, a call. My interview was tomorrow. My mind instantly hit the guardrail. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t think straight. All I could do was quickly revise whatever I possibly could before the final high-speed chase.

I gave the interview while internally having a complete mental breakdown, hands shaking, voice trembling, thoughts racing. And then I realized something funny, “The interview” wasn’t actually the monster my socially anxious introvert self had made.

The grim third year ended on a bittersweet note, me getting an intern, a good semester, and saying goodbye to some of my favourite people. Some amazing seniors who became great friends whose advice, support, and companionship I’ll always cherish.

Phase 4: My Place, A Little Different

I came back here after my internship, and suddenly the campus which once felt strangely new had become my home away from home. The same campus where I once forgot the way to the lab had somehow become the place I knew best. And with that came another realization, one day, I would have to leave it.

I got the PPO. The dream I came here with had finally been completed successfully. Now it was my turn to be there for my friends. Running around with hands full of resumes and seeing the happy tears on my friends’ faces after they got placed became one of the core memories of my campus life. After that, all I was left with was the wish to take in every moment of this place and keep it in my heart forever.

In the final year, I truly found myself  who I was, what I wanted, how I wanted it to be, and with whom I wanted to share my time, some amazing souls.

Days went like seconds having fun, clicking pictures, shooting videos, talking, dancing, travelling, making memories. 

The year moved at a crazy speed in one moment I was applying for my final courses, playing cards, fighting and partying with my friends, practicing for DE, doing wall painting, getting ready for my farewell, getting others ready for theirs and the next moment, I was packing up all my stuff, applying no-dues and submitting my Id card.

I never wanted it to end. 

But eventually, it did.

And all it left behind was a strange melancholic feeling of contentment.

Final Phase: The Old Yet New Me

My journey of learning, exploring and experiencing IITK life came to a beautiful end and taught me so many things. From being someone who was once scared to talk to new people, I came all the way to confidently walking through a crowd and feeling like I belonged there.

Whatever I experienced in these four years is honestly difficult to put into words, happiness, sadness, heartbreak, excitement, anger, and finally, wistfulness.

So what’s the moral of the story?

I guess it’s this

Live unconditionally.

Face everything head-on.

Tell your socially anxious self to believe in herself and just go for it.

These years might become the best years of your life, so enjoy them fully and always stay open to new experiences. I know it’s difficult sometimes, but I know you can do it because I did.

No breaks.

Only acceleration.

Written by: Jiya Verma

Edited by: Medha , Abhinav kumar