Regis Cebu Leadership
Leader Izumi G. Yamashita
Movie synopsis of From Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story, JCampbell Monomyth and My Life Story - REVISED
FROM HOMELESS TO HARVARD: THE LIZ MURRAY STORY SYNOPSIS
Liz Murray was born on September 23, 1980 to a poor and extremely dysfunctional family in Bronx, New York. Her mother was a desperate drug addict, schizophrenic, legally blind, and an alcoholic. Her father on the other hand was also a drug addict – a highly intelligent drug addict with a love for reading books.
Being legally blind, Liz's mother was a qualified recipient of a monthly welfare check. However, the money they receive was all spent on drugs and alcohol by their parents leaving Liz and her sister to starve. They often found themselves feeding off garbage cans, and to an extreme, resorted to eating ice cubes as, according to the, it was as a close a feeling to eating; splitting a tube of toothpaste – even eating a stick of ChapStick lip balm to soothe their hunger.
As a student, Liz was often the target of bullies as she always came in smelly, dirty, and itching from her lice-filled hair. Because of this, she barely went to class and only showed up during exam days. Despite rarely going to class, Liz still often got high grades, which she credits to her dad giving him books which he stole from bookstores. He instilled in her a love for reading, which eventually paid off.
Being the favorite target of bullies, Liz became overly self-conscious and an introvert until such time that she quit attending school altogether. At the age of 11, her mom was diagnosed with AIDS which she contracted from sharing needles throughout her drug addiction. By this time, her mom decided to live with Liz's godfather where her sister also currently stays. At age 13, Liz has the option to stay with her father in their old filthy apartment or in an assisted living shelter where she would given proper care and education. Liz, hoping her parents would eventually get back together, stayed with his father. However, in order for her to be allowed to stay with her father, the social workers gave the condition that she would have to go to school, which she did not. One day, social workers took Liz away from her father and brought her to a shelter home for children. Her life in the shelter home was as horrible as her life outside with all the bullying and physical, emotional, and psychological violence other children brought upon other girls including her.
Eventually, the shelter decided to bring her back to live with her mother. Liz started junior high school where she met Chris, who had similar problems at home. Together, they avoided school and hung out with other gang of shirkers.
