Elizabeth Murray (born 23 September 1980) is an American memoirist and inspirational speaker
Biography Of Elizabeth Murray
Who is notable for having been accepted to Harvard University despite being homeless in her high school years.
Her life story was chronicled in Lifetime's television film Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003).
Murray's memoir Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard,
Murray was born on
23/09/ 1980,
in the Bronx, New York to poor and drug-addicted parents, both of whom would later contract HIV.
She was surrounded by drug use from an early age and lived in an unclean environment. She was often hungry and ate ice cubes
When she was about 9 years old, Murray began working jobs at gas stations and supermarkets to earn money for groceries.
Her parents split up in 1994 when she was 11, and her mother and sister moved in with her grandfather.
Murray's life took a tragic turn when her mother died of AIDS-related tuberculosis in 1996, was 15 years old at the time
She was left to care for her younger sister. She was also homeless and bouncing from shelter to shelter.
Despite these challenges, Murray was determined to get an education. She enrolled in Humanities Preparatory Academy (HPA),
High school in Chelsea, Manhattan. HPA was a small school with a supportive environment, and Murray thrived there.
In 1998, Murray was accepted to Harvard University. She was the first homeless student to be admitted to the prestigious school.
Murray's story quickly became national news, and she was an inspiration to millions of people.
Biography Of Elizabeth (Liz) Murray
Murray's time at Harvard was not easy. She was often homesick and struggled to keep up with her studies.
However, she was determined to succeed, and she eventually graduated in 2009 with a degree in psychology.
Since graduating from Harvard, Murray has become a successful motivational speaker and author.
Liz Murray
She has written two books, Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard,
Finding the Good in Bad: How to Face Life's Challenges with Courage and Hope. Murray has also given countless speeches
Murray's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of education. She is an inspiration to us all.