Long-term mentoring for teens, guided by structured insight, personal clarity, and grounded direction.
Mentorship by Sanjeev Manucha, based in California. Offered remotely to families in Vietnam and across Asia.
I work one-on-one over Zoom, with full attention, zero distractions, and the same depth you'd expect in-person*.
This is not tutoring. It’s not therapy.
It’s a quiet, steady space for your child to explore who they are, what they care about, and how to move forward with confidence.
*I also travel to Vietnam at least two times each year for those who prefer to meet occasionally face-to-face.
What This Is
This is a long-term mentoring service for teens aged 13 and above.
It begins with a personal review of your child’s interests, skills, and current direction.
Over time, we update this understanding and their progress through one-on-one sessions and regular check-ins—helping them grow confidence, reflect more clearly, and build real-life skills.
It’s not about fixing problems - because your child is not broken. It’s also not about solving problems in a hurry.
It’s about helping your child build confidence, direction, and a stronger sense of self—step by step, over time.
Each student is supported individually through regular 1-on-1 sessions, and their progress, evolving strengths and insight map is updated every six months.
Who this is for
This service is for thoughtful families who understand that academic success—while important—is not enough.
Students today face pressures that go far beyond grades. The world around them is changing—faster than any generation before them. Technology is evolving.
Expectations are shifting. And only those who can adapt, reflect, and grow will be ready for what comes next.
They’re expected to think clearly, communicate well, and make decisions in unfamiliar environments—often far from home. That kind of readiness doesn’t come from school alone. It comes from self-understanding, emotional awareness, and personal clarity.
This kind of mentoring helps your child develop the skills to self-guide, self-correct, and adapt—not just now, but for whatever comes next.
If your child spends most of their time speaking Vietnamese or Thai, and socializing within a narrow peer group—with little exposure to broader worldviews—it becomes harder for them to imagine, prepare for, or grow into the future they’re hoping for.
Without realizing it, their personal reference point can shift lower than what they’re truly capable of.
Likewise, traveling abroad—without real engagement—doesn’t build the kind of readiness that matters. It’s not about breathing the same air. It’s about building the internal tools to thrive.
This mentoring is for teens who are doing “fine” on the surface but may feel unsure underneath. Driven but tired. Capable but stuck. Curious but overwhelmed.
If your child is between 13 and 18, and you're looking for something calm, consistent, and long-term—this kind of mentoring gives them a steady way to grow their confidence, reflect clearly, and build the inner capacity they’ll actually need when life gets bigger.
The Process
Everything begins with a conversation.
If it feels like a good fit, we start with a phase of observation—mapping your child’s strengths, interests, and current direction through an assessment test, structured conversations and reflective activities.
This forms the foundation of their personal profile, which we update together over time.
Mentoring sessions are one-on-one and held over Zoom. Most students meet with me every two weeks. Some prefer a slower rhythm.
A limited number of students are invited into a weekly format—when there’s a strong developmental fit and the student is ready for a deeper pace. This is not common, and it’s offered only after we’ve worked together for a while.
Every six months, we revisit your child’s personal direction map and update it with new insights. You’ll receive a simple, clear parent summary that shows how your child is growing—not just what they’ve done, but how they’re thinking and who they’re becoming.
This is a long-term process. There’s no rush.
The goal isn’t performance—it’s growth, reflection, and real internal readiness.
What you Receive
This work is long-term and relational—but that doesn’t mean vague.
As a parent, you’ll receive regular windows into your child’s development—not just what they’re doing, but how they’re thinking, how they’re growing, and what’s emerging.
Every six months, you’ll receive a summary of your child’s evolving insight profile—capturing their current strengths, shifts in direction, and areas of focus.
These updates are written clearly, without jargon. You’ll understand how your child is progressing, where their energy is going, and how you can support them quietly from the side.
Parent involvement is part of the process.
Outside of our mentoring sessions, the people most likely to notice shifts in your child’s thinking or behavior are you—and their close friends.That’s why I’ll schedule regular check-ins with you. Not to supervise, but to understand how your child is showing up in everyday life, and to share small ways you might support their growth from the side.
Sometimes I’ll suggest small actions you can take—like signing them up for an improv class or creating moments at home with fewer digital distractions, or spending 1-on-1 time with the child with specific activities. These aren’t tasks. They’re just small nudges, tailored to what your child needs at that moment.
The mentoring space always belongs to your child. But your presence around it—calm, steady, supportive—makes all the difference.
Still have questions? Read the FAQ page!
About the Mentor
My name is Sanjeev Manucha. I’m based in California, and I work with students across Vietnam and Asia through one-on-one, long-term mentoring.I’ve been mentoring teens and young adults for over 15 years—quiet thinkers, driven achievers, students who needed more clarity, or simply someone steady to talk to.Alongside this, I’ve spent years mentoring adults in the professional world. In companies like Cisco, Salesforce, and Intuit, I’ve often been the person people come to—not for technical answers, but for perspective. Whether it’s over coffee or in a quiet moment between meetings, I take that trust seriously. Listening well is a skill. So is knowing when to speak.That’s what this work is built on: trust, presence, and clarity.I don’t work with many students at once.
Because the kind of mentoring I offer isn’t something you batch. It takes time, and attention, and a willingness to meet each student exactly where they are—without rushing, and without forcing an outcome.I believe that every young person needs at least one adult in their life who isn’t trying to fix them, impress them, or push them. Just someone who’s there.
To listen. To reflect. To guide them toward who they already are.That’s my role.Not to add more pressure—but to help your child grow into themselves, with a little more confidence and a lot more clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is this academic coaching?No. This isn’t tutoring or test prep.
I’m not here to boost grades—I’m here to help your child build clarity, direction, and confidence over time.That said, when a student starts feeling more grounded and motivated, school often improves too.
Not because I’m teaching them math or science—but because they stop wasting energy on doubt, anxiety, or trying to be someone they’re not.When that pressure lifts, focus returns. And performance tends to follow.
2. Does it work just as well over Zoom?Yes.
In fact, this model is designed to work over Zoom.It’s one-on-one, focused, and quiet.
We don’t need a classroom. We need time, attention, and trust.
As long as your child is on a stable connection on a laptop or desktop (not a phone screen), the depth is the same.
3. What kind of students benefit from this?Many students who come to me are doing well in school—but something still feels off.
They might be quiet, easily frustrated, or spending too much time on their phone or gaming.
That doesn’t always mean they’re lazy or distracted. Sometimes it means they’re bored—or ahead of their environment—and no one has noticed.I’ve also worked with students who compare themselves constantly, especially to siblings, and feel like they’ll never measure up.This kind of mentoring helps uncover what’s really going on beneath the surface—and gives the student a way forward that feels personal, honest, and sustainable.It’s not for students in crisis—but it is for those who need more than just advice or academic pressure.
4. How involved are parents in the process?You will be involved—because you see what I can’t.Outside of the sessions I have with your child, the only people who can observe real change are those closest to them. That usually means you—or their close friends.Since I’m answerable to you, and you're the one seeing your child every day, we’ll work together as a team. I’ll schedule regular check-ins with you, separate from the sessions with your child. You will also be able to schedule these sessions with me on your own if needed.These conversations help me understand what (changes) you’re seeing, and also give us space to coordinate quietly in the background. From time to time, I may ask you to support a specific need. For example:
Taking your child to an improv class or a particular play
Creating a screen-free time during dinner for a week
Spending time with your child in a park, etc
These are just examples. The actual requests will always depend on your child’s current stage and what they need most at that time.You’re not expected to supervise or interfere.
You’re there to support—with calm presence and quiet consistency.
5. How do we know if it’s working?This is one-on-one mentoring. Your child isn’t just a student on my calendar—I’m fully invested in their growth, and in the small signs that show it’s happening.But growth doesn’t always look dramatic from the outside. Some shifts are quiet at first: better questions, calmer energy, stronger choices, more awareness, more focus, improved interest in academics.Every six months, I’ll send you a clear summary of what’s changing—inside and out.
Not just what they’re doing, but how they’re thinking and showing up in the world.At the same time, I encourage you to stay realistic. Not every step will be visible right away. And that’s okay.In any case, you and I will be talking.
My parental outreach calendar is always open if you'd like to schedule a check-in.And for smaller updates or questions that don’t need a full meeting, you’re welcome to reach out on Zalo or WhatsApp.
6. What if my child doesn’t want to talk at first?That’s completely okay. In fact, that’s often where we begin.Trust takes time—especially for students who are used to being judged, misunderstood or carrying a quiet self judgement within them. Some think I’m just another adult with more expectations. It can take a few sessions before they realize this space is different.I’ve worked with students who barely spoke at first—and later volunteered to be the opening speaker for their class.
I’ve also seen students break down in tears, finally letting go of stress they didn’t know they were carrying. One sat quietly for ten minutes after crying, then looked up and said, “I want to address the class.”These moments don’t come from pressure. They come from presence.This isn’t school. It’s not therapy. It’s a calm space where your child is allowed to grow in their own way, at their own pace.
7. Can this help with future decisions like university or career?Yes—but not in the checklist sense.I’m not here to tell your child what to study or where to apply.
I’m here to help them understand who they are, what matters to them, and what direction fits their natural strengths and energy.Of course, I’m happy to talk about career coaching when the time is right. But I’ve seen again and again: once a student understands their own interests, aptitudes, and values, the decisions come much more easily—and feel like theirs.This kind of mentoring frees them from needing constant guidance or outside validation.
It’s like planting a seedling in the right soil, at the right time, and supplying it with what it needs to grow strong. Not just now—but for the long term, even when the weather changes.
Get Started
If you’re curious, let’s talk.As you can imagine, this isn’t a quick service or a product, and it’s not for everyone.
But if something about this feels right to you—if you sense your child would benefit from this kind of long-term support—I’d be happy to have a clear, honest conversation to see if this feels like the right fit.
Investment
This is a premium, one-on-one mentoring relationship.
Most families work with me over a period of 6–12 months, with sessions held twice a month.The monthly fee ranges from $400 to $650 USD, depending on the structure and rhythm we agree on.
Weekly sessions are limited, and available by invitation only.For younger students (around 13–14), or those with more time before major decisions, we can explore a gentler rhythm—such as once every three weeks—if it feels right.For older students (16+), or those closer to key academic transitions, a more consistent rhythm is usually important to build trust and make lasting progress in time.To begin, the first payment covers the initial two months. After that, payments are made monthly.
The final month’s fee is adjusted accordingly at the end of the mentoring cycle.We’ll discuss everything clearly before we begin—so you’ll always know what to expect.
To start, please fill-in the details below and I will respond with sending you a calendar link to schedule a time to talk.We’ll talk for 30–40 minutes, just to get a sense of your child’s context, what they need, and whether this is the right fit.There’s no cost for this first conversation. If it feels like a match, we’ll go from there. If not, no pressure at all.
Thank you - your message has been received
I’ll review it and get in touch with you within 48 hours.If your child is quite young, or if you’re exploring a gentler starting point, we can absolutely talk about a rhythm that works for your family—whether that’s once every three weeks, or something else.We’ll take it one step at a time, together.