This is a must! ⬇️

If you haven't seen Debbie Lum documentary, "Try Harder" it is "must-see TV". It traces the life of 5 teens in a high-pressure HS. It shows the toil the college process is taking on the mental health of kids. The documentary is poignant, evocative & riveting, please watch it

✍️Jot it down so you don't forget. 2️⃣ WEEKS until TRY HARDER! has its broadcast premiere on PBS Independent Lens May 2nd! Synopsis: At San Francisco’s academic pressure cooker Lowell High School, stressed-out seniors chase college dreams. #TryHarderPBS pbs.org/independentlen…

Love this!

4/27: Join the JFK Jr. Film Initiative for a discussion w/Debbie Lum '91, director & producer of Try Harder!, and 2 of the the film's subjects, Rachael Schmidt '21, recent Brown University grad, & Richard Shapiro, recently retired Physics teacher watson.brown.edu/events/2022/tr…

So excited about our broadcast premiere!

Thank you for having me!

"If Asians, America's most Everything Bagel population, can learn to accept and integrate our multiversal selves, why can't the entirety of these not-so-United States figure it out?" Wise words from Jeff Yang 🫶 FOLLOW ME @ORIGINALSPIN ON THREADS/IG via CNN. cnn.com/2022/04/21/opi…

TRY HARDER! premieres May 2nd on Independent Lens! 🎓 ✏️The perfect start to #AAPIHeritageMonth. Don't miss the award-winning documentary that puts the spotlight on mental health and education. From director Debbie Lum. pbs.org/independentlen…

🎓MONDAY May 2 at 7 PM PT! Comedian @Irene_Tu hosts an evening of live storytelling, conversation with Bay Area students, and film clips about the high stakes of educational achievement and whether college is worth the grind. Join virtually or in person. kqed.org/event/1812

Go Sophia! 💛💛💛

“In all the headline-grabbing reports on the insanity of the college admissions process, the students who are at the heart of the story seem to be the last ones given a voice.” - Debbie Lum TRY HARDER! gives them a voice. Premiering tonight on Independent Lens!

“These are the kids who can’t afford to go to private school,” director Debbie Lum said. “It is a way for someone who didn’t have access to have a way up in society.” trib.al/B6Jnaau

Oof, not sure how I'd do in today's college admissions process, but loved watching #TryHarder by Debbie Lum on WETA. It captured admissions challenges kids have to deal w/, esp Asian Americans. For the record, these kids were all exceptional. pbs.org/video/try-hard…

TRY HARDER! in @nbcnews! Thank you Kimmy for this thread and thoughtful article.

Still feeling the love from Monday's amazing @kqed event! Thank you to the hilarious Irene Tu as well as all those who joined us. 💛 Don't forget you can watch TRY HARDER! now via @independentlens! pbs.org/independentlen…

🎉🥳🙌

Tomorrow, Wed. May 25, at 2 pm ET Join a lively discussion "unpacking AAPI identity" moderated by Larissa Lam with Nicholas D. Hartlep at Berea College; Debbie Lum, Anna Yeo (team Try Harder!), & Deann Borshay Liem dir. Geographies of kinship RSVP👉 reframe52522.eventbrite.com

Aloha SocAsianAcadSurg!🍿Join us for free screenings on Sat, 9/17 at 3pm or 5pm HST at this year's SAAS Conf followed by a keynote from director Debbie Lum on Mon, 9/19 at 9:30am HST. That moment when a film about high-achieving AAPI students meets their future selves.👩‍🎓🥼

So grateful to Mr. Shapiro for so many reasons. Happiest of birthdays to one of our heroes 🎉