What are some of events I can go to like auctions or meet ups to find a mentor to help me with this journey?

A friend and mentor who has been in this for decades told me "you can make a fortune in real estate in 5 years ... just not the FIRST 5 years." 

I would try to find a mentor or someone to partner with that is familiar with that market. 

If that's the case well now you have a totally new new issue to work through, how to build a budget of expected income and expenses.Good luck but please be careful and try to find an experienced and successful actual human being as a guide or mentor to walk you through this. 

Please recommend a good broker company to affiliate with where I can learn more about RE market in Maryland.Also I am considering providing services to an experienced investor for free for 6 months, i.e. at the end of the day, you will receive my commission check back when you buy/sell your investment property, in exchange for your mentoring.

A couple of ways to do this are to invest in others deals, partner with an operator or hire a mentor and build your own business.

Should I find a mentor?

Also, any Mentors I would love to dive deeper and gather knowledge from one!

I was really lucky and found a lender who was willing to help mentor me and show me the way he analyzes deals.

I am going to be looking for knowledge, investors, lenders, mentors, agents, basically anyone and everyone that I can network with because lets be honest you never know when you might need to reach out to someone that has specific knowledge in a niche you are not knowledgeable in.