# Emacs as a Highschooler: How It Changed My Life Sunday, Nov 29 2020, 1:03 PM - 1:13 PM 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. Back to the [[schedule]] All times are approximate, and we might shuffle talks around as needed. Please check a few days before the start of the conference for instructions on how to watch and participate. See you then! [[!meta title="Emacs as a Highschooler: How It Changed My Life"]]