In this episode, we sit down with mentorship program participants Jon Casto, SRNA and Abigail Poss, SRNA, to find out what surprised them, what inspired them, and what they wish every future CRNA knew before attending AANA Mid-Year Assembly Stepping into a national conference for the first time can feel overwhelming but it can also be the moment everything clicks. You’ll hear real experiences from residents navigating their first major professional event, how mentorship accelerates growth, and why getting involved sooner rather than later can open doors you didn’t even know existed. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 🤝 Mentorship accelerates career growth 🌎 Networking builds lifelong connections 🏛️ Advocacy starts earlier than you think 📚 Students can lead from day one 🚀 Early involvement shapes future leaders   Follow @AirwayExchangePodcast on Instagram Submit a Topic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airway-exchange-podcast-request   Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ Earn MAC Dev Credit: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/ Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246