Liz Murray facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Liz Murray
Murray in 2013
Born	(1980-09-23) September 23, 1980 (age 44) New York City, New York, U.S.
Education	Harvard University (BS) Columbia University (MS)
Occupation	Teacher, motivational speaker

Elizabeth Murray (born September 23, 1980) is an American memoirist and inspirational speaker. She is well-known for being accepted into Harvard University. This was amazing because she was homeless during her high school years.

Her inspiring life story was made into a television film called Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story in 2003. This movie was shown on the Lifetime TV channel. Liz Murray also wrote a book about her life. It is called Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard. This book became a New York Times Bestseller in 2010.

Liz Murray's Early Life and Education

Liz Murray often felt hungry when she was a child. Sometimes, she would eat ice cubes to feel like she was eating food. When she was about 9 years old, Liz started working. She worked at gas stations and supermarkets. She earned money to buy groceries for her family.

In 1994, her parents separated. Her mother and sister moved to live with her grandfather. Liz stayed with her father for a while. Later, social services helped her for a short time for her own safety. During this period, her father had to leave their apartment.

Liz, her mother, and her sister Lisa then lived with her mother's father for a few years. When Liz was 13, she lived in a group home for a period.

Liz became homeless just after her 15th birthday. This happened when her mother passed away due to illness in 1996. Her father then moved to a homeless shelter. Liz decided she wanted to change her life. She was determined to finish her education.

She found a job going door-to-door. She asked people for donations to support political ideas. Liz knew that this job was important for her survival. She worked very hard and broke all the company's sales records. She earned more than $8,000 in just two months.

Even though she started high school late, Liz was very dedicated. She also did not have a stable home. Despite these challenges, she began attending the Humanities Preparatory Academy in Chelsea, Manhattan. She finished high school in only two years.

Liz earned an average grade of 95. She graduated at the very top of her class, which had 158 students. She received a special scholarship from The New York Times for students who needed help. She was accepted into Harvard University and started there in the fall of 2000.

A story about the scholarship winners was published on the front page of The New York Times' metro section in March 1999. After reading the story, many people wanted to help Liz. They brought her clothes and food. Some even offered to do her laundry.

In 2003, Liz transferred from Harvard to Columbia University. She did this to care for her father, who was not well. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in June 2009. In August 2009, she started taking graduate classes at Harvard Summer School. She planned to earn a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. Her goal was to become a counselor.

Since then, she has earned a Master's degree in the Psychology of Education from Columbia University. Her older sister, Lisa, also graduated from Purchase College. Lisa is now a school teacher who works with children who have autism.

Liz Murray's Career and Impact

Liz Murray is a co-founder of a youth mentoring group. It is called "The Arthur Project." This group was named after her first mentor, who helped her a lot. Liz also works as an inspirational speaker. She has been with the Washington Speakers Bureau since 1999.

As a speaker, Liz has shared the stage with famous people. These include Tony Blair, Mikhail Gorbachev, and the Dalai Lama. In 2007, she gave a speech at a conference for homeless people in Washington State. In March 2009, she spoke to 1,400 students at Worcester Technical High School. In September 2012, she gave a TED Talk called "For the Love of Possibility." This talk was given at TedxYouth @San Diego.

Liz Murray also helped produce the Lifetime television film Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003). The movie starred actress Thora Birch. This film told Liz Murray's life story. It was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards. These included nominations for Best Television Movie and Best Lead Actress. Liz Murray even made a short appearance in the movie. She played a social worker.

Liz Murray's story has also been featured on TV shows. She appeared on ABC's 20/20. She was also a guest on The Ricki Lake Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show. On The Oprah Winfrey Show, Liz talked about what she learned from her parents. She said they taught her that being strong means being flexible. She also learned that being thankful means knowing that you could easily lose what you have. And forgiveness means understanding that things are not always personal. It also means knowing that everyone has limits.

Liz Murray's memoir Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard was published in 2010. The book quickly became a New York Times Best Seller. It also became a bestseller around the world. It was published in twelve countries and in eight different languages. Critics gave the book good reviews. Kirkus Review called it "an admirable story of a teen who overcame homelessness through sheer grit and the kindness of friends."

Liz Murray has received many honors and awards. These include the White House Project's Role Model Award. In 2004, she received Oprah Winfrey’s first-ever Chutzpah Award. This award is given to women who show boldness and courage. It honors those who overcome challenges and achieve great things. In 2008, she received the Appalachian Women’s Fund's Women of Vision Award. In 2011, she won an Alex Award for her book. On May 19, 2013, she received an honorary doctorate degree. She also gave the graduation speech at Merrimack College.

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Elizabeth Murray (psicóloga) para niños

• Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003), Lifetime television film