PBS NC's  Indie Lens Screening and Virtual Discussion—Try Harder!

About PBS North CarolinaAs the PBS affiliate serving the country’s third-largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its statewide audience on-air, online and in-person. PBS NC shares the best of PBS and locally produced content, reaching up to 16.8 million households, across four, unique over-the-air program services: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS Channel and the Explorer Channel.​PBS North Carolina also delivers rich, digital-first content to more than 118,000 social media followers and 1.3 million website visitors annually. In-person, PBS North Carolina engages communities and inspires action. Its free resources and events spark curiosity from North Carolina’s youngest to oldest citizens, helping them reach their full potential. And PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state’s emergency services.PBS North Carolina offers life-enhancing programs and services across North Carolina and beyond. Visit pbsnc.org and join the conversation at facebook.com/MyPBSNC, instagram.com/MyPBSNC and @MyPBSNC on Twitter.

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PBS NC and RiverRun International Film Festival present—First Tuesday-of-the-Month Indie Lens Pop-up Virtual Film Series and Discussions

PBS North Carolina (VIRTUAL Screening & Discussion Event)

<h2>PBS NC and RiverRun International Film Festival Present—Indie Lens Pop-up Screening of Try Harder! and Virtual Discussion</h2>Join us for a preview screening of an exclusive hour-long excerpt of Try Harder!, followed by a virtual discussion about the pressures high-achieving high school students face today. You are encouraged to ask questions and engage in the conversation via the virtual chat.About the film: In this upcoming episode from the acclaimed PBS documentary series Independent Lens, Try Harder!, goes inside a prestigious public high school with a majority Asian American student body whose fiercely competitive seniors share the dream and the stress of getting into a top university.

Moderator: Melissa Rihm Thibault, Ph.D, chief education and innovation officer, PBS North CarolinaPanelists:<ul><li>Ronnie Chalmers, director of strategic initiatives, office of enrollment management and services, NC State University</li><li>Yvonne Corcho, student assistance program coordinator, Heritage High School (Wake County)</li><li>Trevor Echols, school counselor, North Johnston High School</li><li>Lori Newnam, dean of counseling services, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics</li></ul>Discussion topics:<ul><li>stress and anxiety</li><li>college application process</li><li>college admissions</li><li>family/peer/cultural pressures</li><li>mental health</li><li>school/life balance</li></ul><h2>Virtual Event Details</h2><ul><li>Date: Tuesday, April 5, at 7 PM</li><li>Time: 7-8:45 PM</li><li>Discussion topics: college admissions, high school pressures, mental health and more</li><li>Virtual link can be found in your registration confirmation</li></ul>This is a FREE, virtual event, but registration is required.To reserve your space and receive the event link, please register via Eventbrite. If you have any questions, contact Karen Nowak at knowak@pbsnc.org.Virtual event link and reminders will be emailed to your prior to the event.More about the film, Try Harder! San Francisco’s Lowell High, one of the best public schools in the country, draws high achievers—nearly 70% Asian Americans—from across the city into a fiercely competitive universe. The camera follows seniors through the hallways and into classrooms as the pressure intensifies to impress admissions officers at elite universities with their report cards, test scores, and overall awesomeness. The students proudly own their identity as nerds and tell their stories with candor and humor despite the stress. The film asks: How do these kids define their identities outside of acceptance letters? When and Where to Watch:Try Harder! premieres Monday, May 2, 2022, at 10 PM, on PBS NC, and on the PBS Video app.Watch Independent Lens Mondays, at 10PM, on PBS NC, and stream anytime on the PBS Video app. Try Harder! is available to stream for free through May 15, 2022.<h3> * * * * * *</h3><aside>Thank you to our event partner, RiverRun International Film Festival.</aside><aside>This event was made possible in part with grant funds from ITVS/Independent Lens.</aside>