... I don't think we go over the degrees itself enough. We seem to mainly be focused on being proficient in our memorization work in order to prove up
If you just described how your mentor works I challenge you to take up mentoring as soon as you can. Add to what you teach the meaning that you see and the idea that everyone should see their own meanings. Make it a part of the discussion for your candidates going forward.
Depending on your lodge it's likely you're now considered prepared to be a mentor in the first degree. Once you're presented your second proficiency for that degree as well and so on for the third. Other lodges expect a mentor to be an MM usually having presented his third proficiency. Which system depends on your lodge.
If you just described how your discussion group works I challenge you to add discussion about meanings and other topics as you posted. But more than that to continue taking in new candidates and roll it forward. One or more seasoned Masons (that's you by the way!) keeping the group going.
The young generation is itching for meaning. We need to teach it to them. We also need to point out that everyone is supposed to find their own meaning so the goal is to have an ever evolving library of meaning.