# Emacs as a Highschooler: How It Changed My Life
Pierce Wang

Could Emacs be humanity's solution to the turbulent years of
adolescence?  So much more than a text editor, Emacs changed the way I
approach everything at the age of 15.  In the two years since
discovering Emacs in my sophomore year of high school, I have been
constantly amazed at what Emacs is capable of.  In this talk, I would
like to share this journey of discovery and what I've learned along
the way, beginning with what led me to Emacs.  I will describe the
many ways that Emacs has shaped my life as a student, a programmer, a
violinist, and a productive and happy adolescent.  In each case, I
have thoroughly enjoyed figuring out the best way to make Emacs work
for me, and I'd like to share this with others.  In addition, I'd like
to take this opportunity to address some roadblocks that I have
noticed having observed some of my peers' attempts at learning Emacs
and possible solutions for those barriers, taking inspiration from
various sources both from inside and outside the Emacs community.