Whenothernine-year-oldkidswereplayinggamesshewasworkingatapetrolstation.Whenotherteenswerestudyingorgoingoutshestruggledtofindaplacetosleeponthestreet.Butsheovercametheseterriblesetbackstowinahighlycompetitivescholarship(奖学金)andgainentrytoHarvardUniversity.Andheramazingstoryhasinspiredamovie“HomelesstoHarvard:TheLizMurrayStory”showninlateApril.
LizMurraya22-year-oldAmericangirlhasbeenwritingareal-lifestoryofwillpoweranddetermination.Lizgrewupintheshadowoftwodrug-addicted(吸毒)parents.Therewasneverenoughfoodorwarmclothesinthehouse.Lizwastheonlymemberofthefamilywhohadajob.HermotherhadAIDSanddiedwhenLizwasjust15yearsold.Theeffectofthatlossbecameaturningpointinherlife.Connectingtheenvironmentinwhichshehadgrownupwithhowhermotherhaddiedshedecidedtodosomethingaboutit.
Lizwentbacktoschool.Shethrewherselfintoherstudiesnevertellingherteachersthatshewashomeless.Atnightshelivedonthestreets.“Whatdrovemetoliveonhadsomethingtodowithunderstandingbyunderstandingthattherewasawholeotherwayofbeing.Ihadonlyexperiencedasmallpartofthesociety”shewroteinherbookBreakingNight.
Sheadmittedthatsheusedenvytodriveherselfon.Sheusedthebenefitsthatcomeeasilytootherssuchasasafelivingenvironmenttoencourageherselfthat“nexttonothingcouldholdmedown”.ShefinishedhighschoolinjusttwoyearsandwonafullscholarshiptostudyatHarvardUniversity.ButLizdecidedtoleavehertopuniversityacoupleofmonthsearlierthisyearinordertotakecareofherfatherwhohasalsodevelopedAIDS.“Ilovemyparentssomuch.Theyaredrugaddicts.ButIneverforgetthattheylovemeallthetime.”
Lizwantsmoviegoerstocomeawaywiththeideathatchangingyourlifeis“assimpleasmakingadecision”.
【小题1】InwhichorderdidthefollowingthingshappentoLiz?
a.HermotherdiedofAIDS. b.Sheworkedatapetrolstation.
c.ShegotadmittedintoHarvard. d.Themovieaboutherlifewasputon.
e.Shehadtroublefindingaplacetosleep.