Most people can’t imagine doing their homework on the subway or sleeping in stairwells — but for Liz Murray, that was her reality. Her story isn’t just a tale of hardship — it’s a story of grit, resilience, and a deep belief that life doesn’t have to end the way it starts.
Liz was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1980 to drug-addicted parents. Her childhood was far from normal — there were days when there was no food in the fridge, no clean clothes, and certainly no structure or safety. Her parents spent much of what they had on drugs, and her home life was chaotic and unstable. Despite all this, Liz always loved to learn.
By the time she was 15, her mother had died of AIDS, her father had moved into a shelter, and Liz herself became homeless. She slept in subway stations, stairwells, or at friends’ houses — wherever she could find a roof for the night. Most would’ve given up. Liz didn’t.
One day, she made a decision that changed everything: she enrolled in an alternative high school. She had no permanent home and often studied in hallways or late at night — but her focus was clear. In just two years, she completed four years’ worth of coursework. Her academic performance was so outstanding that she earned a scholarship from The New York Times — and that opened the doors to one of the most prestigious universities in the world: Harvard.
She got in.
Liz’s journey from being homeless to walking the halls of Harvard isn’t just inspirational — it’s deeply human. It reminds us that our circumstances don’t define our future. What matters more is what we do with what we’ve got, no matter how little that may be.
Today, Liz Murray is a motivational speaker, author, and co-founder of a youth mentoring organization. She has written a bestselling memoir, Breaking Night, and continues to inspire thousands with her story of overcoming what most would consider impossible.
🌱 Lesson from Liz Murray:
“Sometimes, the people with the worst pasts create the best futures.”
In a world where it’s easy to feel stuck or limited by our backgrounds, Liz’s journey proves that transformation is possible — not just in fairy tales, but in real life, too.
Shahariar Shahed is a mental health and productivity writer with a background in business and digital marketing. He researches evidence-based strategies for motivation, mental well-being, and self-improvement. Shahariar is also an Aspire Leadership Program alumni and a passionate advocate for lifelong learning. Follow him on Instagram
