Master’s student Zhe Xu has participated in KTH’s mentoring program over the past year. “During the mentoring period, I was going through a difficult time in my life. My mentor, Minanda, was incredibly patient in her communication with me, listened to my concerns and insecurities, and offered me both psychological insights and practical advice,” she says. Mentor Minanda’s top advice to KTH students who want to succeed in their studies is to dare to explore, and learn by trial and error.

Published Sep 21, 2026

KTH alumn Minanda Fritz, a licensed psychotherapist and entrepreneur for over 30 years, has served as a mentor to master’s student Zhe Xu during the past academic year.
“I usually tell my mentees that they don’t have to be perfect to succeed. They don’t need to have their entire plan figured out. The most important thing is to keep moving forward, learn along the way, dare to try new things, and put the knowledge into action.”

Over the past three years, Minanda Fritz, founder of the company Livshälsa, has taken on five international students as mentees in KTH’s mentoring program.
“For me, mentoring is about professional and personal development. For international students, it also means support in a new country, a new academic culture, and a different climate. Studies and professional life bring you into contact with people, cultures, and experiences.

She is passionate about entrepreneurship, which she says combines knowledge, creativity, and ideas, while also creating jobs.
“I usually advise my mentees to view their time as students as a stepping stone toward the next phase of life. Identity is formed between the ages of 18 and 25, so it’s important to explore environments that can lead to entrepreneurship or career paths. Education shouldn’t be given so much importance that it affects one’s health in a negative way.”

Zhe Xu, master’s student in Innovative Technology for a Healthy Living at KTH, expresses deep gratitude for the help and support she has received from her mentor, Minanda Fritz.

“The mentoring program is so much more than just a platform for career development. As a mentee, you get the opportunity to talk about personal challenges and get help with the uncertainty about life and the future that many of us may feel in our twenties,” she says.

Can you give examples of how the mentoring program has helped you in your studies and in your life in general?

“At the beginning of the mentorship last year, I was going through such a difficult period that my anxiety about my studies sometimes made it hard for me to even leave the house, let alone keep up with my coursework. I shared this with Minanda. She helped me break down my challenges into small steps, understand what I was going through, and start with something simple—like going for a walk every day. After two or three weeks, I was able to gradually rebuild a normal daily routine.”

According to Minanda Fritz, one contributing factor to today’s academic stress may be how increased digitalization in society affects the way we learn and interact.
“AI can be a fantastic tool, but it must not become the only study method. Learning also requires reading, conversation, and face-to-face meetings to understand context,” she says.

“Human relationships are important, and as a mentor, I’m an experienced person with whom the student can relate and reason with.”
“If digital tools replace training in concentration, perseverance, and social interaction, we risk weakening important abilities. We need to continue reading, thinking, discussing and interacting with others,” says Minanda Fritz.

“Intelligence isn’t just about having access to the right answers, but also about being able to ask questions, think independently, and interact with others to increase one’s understanding and knowledge.”

Zhe Xu, what advice can you give to students who are struggling with stress during their time at KTH?

“First and foremost, I want to say that it’s completely normal to sometimes feel overwhelmed by life, feel hopeless, or be unsure of what to do. To bring about change, start with the very smallest things and praise yourself for going outside today, cleaning your room, or cooking a meal.”
“Small actions can gradually remind us that we’re still capable of doing things and taking care of ourselves.” We aren’t failures just because we’re struggling,” says Zhe Xu.

“Even if feelings of helplessness return from time to time, try not to suppress your emotions or blame yourself for having them. Allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling and make changes at your own pace. Every small step forward is worth acknowledging.”

Text by Katarina Ahlfort
Photo by Jon Lindhe