I can’t legally vote, buy a house, or rent a car. But I can work with the FBI to develop a statewide crisis response plan for a solar eclipse, discuss the emerging trend of VR, and run a design thinking workshop. I can fix a paper jam, pick any lock, deliver a pitch, and lead like a boss. I’m 16 and I am employable. How’s that? I’m hacking adulthood. As a teen, I took ownership of my learning for a radically different high school experience that helped me find my voice and know how to use it.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]