I would ask yourself what is your end goal?

It's no guarantee but it's a good place to start.

Depending on the type of commercial you want to get into my suggestion is to go work for a company that does commercial real estate as learning from people who do it and getting paid at the same time is not a bad strategy 

I want to know everyone’s opinions on what they would do in my shoes.

Try to see the property yourself if you can (was out of state initially).

Everything is harder when you do it remote, but you are competing with local investors.

Does anybody here recommend any mentors/resources/tools/or has experience doing it themselves and would be open to connecting? 

What do you think of my essentially 7-word answer? 

Go be an ISA....prove yourself valuable and move around between the different positions. 

Great to meet you via forums and will do!