Liz Murray

Liz Murray
Born	Elizabeth "Liz" Murray (1980-09-23) September 23, 1980

Elizabeth "Liz" Murray (born (1980-09-23)September 23, 1980) is an American inspirational speaker who is best known as having been homeless in her youth, and as having overcome her hardship to achieve success.

Biography

Murray was born in the Bronx, New York on September 23, 1980 to poor, and drug-addicted parents who would later each contract HIV. She became homeless just after she turned 15, when her mother died of AIDS, and her father moved to a homeless shelter. Murray fought through some incredibly difficult circumstances and was finally able to turn her life around when she began attending the Humanities Preparatory Academy in Chelsea, Manhattan.Though she started high school later than most students, and remained without a stable home while supporting herself and her sister, Murray graduated in only two years. She was awarded a New York Times scholarship for needy students and was accepted into Harvard University, matriculating in the fall semester of 2000. Murray ultimately finished college at Sarah Lawrence, unable to cope with the quality of the people she met at Harvard. According to her book Breaking Night, her older sister, Lisa, graduated from Purchase College in New York State and is a school teacher for autistic children. In late 2006, her father died of AIDS. She eventually returned to Harvard in 2006 and graduated in June 2009. As of August 2009, she began taking graduate courses at Harvard Summer School and would like to earn a doctorate in clinical psychology to counsel people from all walks of life. She is the founder and director of Manifest Living, a company that provides a series of workshops that empower adults to create the extraordinary things in their lives. A made-for-TV film about Murray's life Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story, was released in 2003. Liz Murray's New York Times (USA) & Sunday Times (UK) bestselling memoir "Breaking Night" was released in September 2010.

Bibliography

• Lucy Ash, 'From homeless to Harvard', BBC World Service, February 8, 2011.
• Meg Hagerty, 'Homeless to Harvard' subject to speak at local benefit, PostStar.com (Glens Falls, NY), August 3, 2009.
• Ron Sanders, Homeless To Harvard Story Inspires Worcester Tech, WBZ (Boston, MA CBS Affiliate), March 19, 2009.
• Kathleen McFadden, Liz Murray Encourages High Country Women To Pay It Forward, High Country Press (Boone, NC), June 12, 2008.
• Leah Beth Ward, Advocates Hear Story of a Life Turned Around, Yakima Herald-Republic, May 8, 2008.
• Nancy Arcayna, Her story tells of triumph over greatest odds, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 28, 2006.
• Liz Murray On Movie About Her Life, Plans For Future, interview with Gabe Pressman, WNBC, April 13, 2003.
• Emily Eakin, TELEVISION REVIEW; A Girl on the Street Finds a Path to the Ivy League, The New York Times, April 7, 2003.
• Al Siebert, From Homeless to Harvard - Liz Murray's Story, THRIVEnet Story of the Month, June 2000.
• Breaking Night: A Memoir, Hyperion Books, 2010 (ISBN 0-7868-6891-0).
• "Liz's Story", New York Times Upfront, Volume: 132 Issue: 11 Page: 12, January 31, 2000.§§§§

External links

• Liz Murray's Manifest Living Website
• Perseverance, a short film produced by Anson Schloat and John G. Young, 2006.
• Ubben Lecture at DePauw University; April 6, 2005