I lack friends to discuss interests with. I want to study programming but have no peers in the field. They say “Hang around five billionaires, and you’ll become the sixth”, and I believe this statement is a crucial thing about personal development. Networking is not my strong point, and communities often gatekeep unexperienced newbies. So, how do I actually find interest-based buddies?
Had a similar issue in college where I wasn’t social enough to form connections in class. I found clubs and work were where I formed my friendships. Places where I was put in a group for extended periods of time. Also, learning that if you’re the one who wants to form the friendship you will most likely need to be the one who initiates conversation and activities for some time
If you’re interested in programming see if there are local beginner hack-a-thons where you can be in a group to complete a project with people that have a similar level of experience.