Council District One-- Visit with Northwest Intermediate AVID students, September 2009
The Northwest Intermediate Advancement Via Individual Determination
(AVID) program is designed to inspire, encourage and support
students to make plans for college. The students had the opportunity
to be inspired by Liz Murray.
 Council Member Christensen enjoys the day with the students as they are inspired by Liz Murray. |
"From homeless
to Harvard. . . it is an unlikely turn of events. Liz Murray's
life is a triumph over adversity and a stunning example of the
importance of dreaming big. Murray's life as the child of
cocaine-addicted parents in the Bronx was bitterly grim. By age 15,
Murray's mom had died and she was homeless. Amidst this pain,
Murray always imagined her life could be much better than it was.
Determined to take charge of her life, she finished high school in
just two years. During these years, many nights were spent in New
York City parks and subway stations. With the help of a scholarship
for needy students sponsored by The New York Times, Murray was
accepted to Harvard. Her story sounds like a Hollywood movie
-- and it practically is. Lifetime television produced a movie
about Murray's life story entitled Homeless to Harvard, the Liz
Murray Story which premiered in April 2003. Murray is also the
recipient of Oprah Winfrey's first ever Chutzpah Award. Murray
received her B.S. in Psychology from Harvard University in June
2009." |