> I can't get the grocery store clerk to help me find wheat tortillas You definitely could if you asked. This was my calculus professor whom I then did underg

> I can't get the grocery store clerk to help me find wheat tortillas You definitely could if you asked. This was my calculus professor whom I then did undergrad research with (ML just before deep learning became the hotness; not my major). I actively stayed in touch and developed the relationship, eventually working with him in multiple projects/startups. There are many paths to develop this kind of relationship. One thing I have read that I think makes a lot of sense is don't ask anyone to "mentor" you. Just grab coffee/lunch and ask them questions. When they give you something actionable, go away and act on it. Then come back having taken action before asking for more advice. Do this a couple dozen times and you now have a mentor.