How to Create Value?

There's a lot you didn't say so it's hard to even understand what you mean, much less provide a tactical advice.

What is "tech company" and "tech work"? Are you a programmer writing code? A technician that sets up routers? A sysadmin setting up software for others? Were you setting up

What exactly were you doing? In what way that work was "passive" (and what does it even mean)?

And how do you determine what is "value-creating"?

Is "value" in this context "money" or some more philosophical "value to the world"?

If it's money, do you mean "your salary" or the monetary value of the thing you helped create? (you can be creating very valuable things for your employer but be paid little, and vice versa).

I assume it was paid internship. So someone was paying you to do what you did. Were they idiots (i.e. paying you for doing things that don't create value) or did you create value but it wasn't reflected in your paycheck?

Once we know all that, we can start to give advice.

Without this information: there are plenty of jobs that are meaningful, create value to the world and are well paid. Find one.

Get a job at Google and at the very least you'll be well compensated

The answer to your question can be found here (needs no introduction, possibly one of his best essays of all): http://www.paulgraham.com/wealth.html

Yes it is. Simplest way is to identify value creators in the org and be of use to them. They then will automatically rope you in. Be patient and pay attention to peoples' needs. And then start doing simple, small things for them. Simple and small being key.

A wise man said premature optimization is the root of all evil. You're 22?

Flight safety instructions suggest putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others.

Optimize along a less lofty axis first (money, experience). The taxes you pay alone create more social "value", statistically speaking.