From Homeless to Harvard University

Some stories remind us that no matter where we begin, we have the power to shape where we go. Liz Murray’s journey is one of those rare stories. When I first read it, I was stunned, a powerful reminder that with the right mindset and inner drive, even the most impossible circumstances can be transformed.
 
‘Born in the Bronx to drug-addicted parents, Liz grew up surrounded by instability. Her home was often without food, heating, or running water. Both parents battled HIV/AIDS, and their world revolved around drugs rather than school lunches or bedtime stories.
 
For Liz, survival often meant standing in long soup kitchen lines or relying on the kindness of neighbours.
 
At 15, her mother died from AIDS-related complications, and her father moved into a homeless shelter. With nowhere to go, Liz found herself sleeping on friends’ sofas, in stairwells, and on subway trains. She was just a teenager, alone, homeless, and without any formal education to rely on.
 
It would have been easy to give up, to believe the world had decided her fate. But Liz made a choice that would change her life. She decided to go back to school.
 
She enrolled in an alternative high school and committed herself to her studies with astonishing focus. She completed four years of high school in just two years, often studying late into the night under dim streetlights or while riding the subway.
 
Her grades were so exceptional that she won a scholarship from The New York Times.
 
That scholarship didn’t just fund her education; it catapulted her into a new life. Liz went on to study at Harvard University, proving that our beginnings do not dictate our endings.
 
Today, Liz Murray is a motivational speaker and author, sharing her story to inspire others to rise above their circumstances. Her memoir, Breaking Night, became a bestseller, demonstrating that grit, determination, and hope can transform even the darkest situations into a launching pad for greatness.’
 
 
Three Key Learnings.
 
1. Your Circumstances Do Not Define You
Liz’s upbringing could have easily trapped her in a cycle of poverty and hopelessness. Instead, she chose to believe she had the power to create a different future.
 
2. Education is a Gateway
For Liz, education wasn’t just about learning, it was a ticket out of her situation. She saw it as the most powerful tool she could use to rebuild her life.
 
3. Small Choices Compound into Big Change
Liz didn’t change her life overnight. It began with small decisions, showing up for class, doing the homework, and asking for help. Over time, those daily actions created momentum that transformed her world.
 
Liz Murray’s journey is proof that resilience is not reserved for the lucky few, it’s a choice available to each of us. She didn’t wait for someone to save her. She didn’t wait for perfect conditions. She acted, step by step, until her reality matched her vision.
 
And perhaps that’s the most powerful takeaway of all. Your current situation may be your starting point, but it’s never your final destination.
 
 
Thoughts for the week. 

1. What is one difficult situation in your life right now that you could start changing by making small, daily choices?
2. If your past doesn’t have to define your future, what new story could you begin writing today?
3. Where could you seek out education or learning to open new doors for yourself?
4. What would your life look like if you committed to one courageous decision this week?

 
Well, that’s it for this week. Have a wonderful weekend and keep believing.
 
Warm regards

John


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