Ask HN: How to Assimilate into Silicon Valley

Hi, I'm college freshman who grew up dreaming about coming to the valley. I've been programming since 3rd grade and ran my own freelancing company back home before coming to school out here. But now that I'm here, I know that the world is being changed around me and I really want to contribute but to me everything just looks like a standard California town. I want to meet programmers like me but can't seem to find any user groups or meet ups that aren't in SF (I don't have a car), and I can't get a full time job so I'm trying to find internships and am trying my best but it feels like you need to know people to get in the door. So does anyone have an advice for me on how I can be a member of the cradle of innovation I've always loved?