How to become an expert progamer

Aspiring young computer programmer here.  Requesting a list of things that every young programmer should know and begin working on.  I want to become an expert like you guys, so anything will be helpful.  Maybe let me know what the best text editor is, what languages are the best, what is the best language to learn first, and what some good starter projects are.  Should I learn by reading or by doing?  What are some thing that I'm not likely to learn for awhile that you have learned through your experience?

Thank you. 

- Shawn Michaels

>>2
Troll response:
    READ SICP.  LEARN LISP.  USE EMACS
Actually, these are more useful than your Flawed Indentation of Lambda.
What >>1 should really do:
Learn LISP, read SICP, master C and use it. Stay away from python, ruby, sepples and other shit.