The first community meetup I ever attended was a Dev Fest. The event was held by the Google Developers group in Nairobi. I was anxious at first but as I got to meet and talk to other people I realized I met my kind of crowd. I went on to attend more events held by different tech communities. I have also been fortunate to play leadership roles in some of these communities which is an honor and a privilege.
Tech communities matter because they bring together different people who are connected in their passion to learn and explore a particular technology concept which makes it easier for people to connect and know that they are not alone. The free food and swag packs that come along as part of different meetups also play a part in getting people excited and hooked on the learning process.
Communities help people develop soft skills like public speaking while making presentations as well as in their interactions with others. Additionally, through communities, you can easily secure internships, job opportunities, and referrals by leveraging community networks.
What's more, is that you may make lasting friendships with good people who will stick with you, in life as well as in tech. And that is something to look forward to because friends bring unexplainable happiness, as well as keep you accountable and encourage you to be better and do better on your goals. They will also remind you to have fun and to enjoy every moment in life.