Liz Murray was just a pre-school child when she and her older sister, Lisa, realized that both their parents were habitual cocaine users. The family lived in the Bronx , NY in deplorable conditions of filth and hunger; the welfare check first paid for drugs and whatever remained (at times only $30) was for food and other necessities. What is surprising is that in spite of this toxic environment, Liz Murray was not only able to graduate from high school, but went on to win a scholarship to study at one of the most prestigious universities in the USA, Harvard.
This young woman’s story of triumph became a Lifetime channel movie that was released in 2003 (From Homeless to Harvard) and in 2010 Ms. Murray wrote her memoir, Breaking Night, that details the events of her and her sister’s lives and how they both survived and became valuable members of the community. I have not read the book yet (only the Prologue) but have viewed the movie more than once; it is a mesmerizing story that evokes feelings of sadness, anger, and disbelief that ends with hope and inspiration. When thinking about how most researchers claim that resilience is an essential characteristic that may be improved upon when we have a positive family environment, our spiritual needs are met, and we have a community that supports and encourages us, my question is: How can the Liz Murray case be explained?
In an article by Steven J. Condly of the University of Central Florida, Resilience in Children: A Review of the Literature with Implications for Education (2006), he states that hardship affects people differently and that not everyone is consumed by it; that some people are able to move forward and have the capacity to lead lives that are rewarding and inspiring. These persons “do not seem embittered, angry, depressed, or otherwise incapacitated” (212). The example that Condly provides is Elie Wiesel who survived the German concentration camps of Auschwitz, Buna, Buchenwald, and Gleiwitz, and then went on to become a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Condly cites research that evidences that poverty breeds crime, lack of opportunity, violence and more. Usually, the children who come from poverty stricken communities do not do well in school and are likely to be hooligans (212). Notwithstanding, there are children who emerge from such negative environments not just as survivors, but as persons who prosper in life and become highly regarded members of society. Most researchers will agree that this is due to “an interaction between their genetic makeup and the kind of support they receive” (216). Interestingly, the characteristics found in most of the children who fit this description are those of above average intelligence and an easy temperament. Children who have a notable cognitive ability are able to understand what is happening, what is controllable and what is not which in turn leads to coping and selecting environments that are more supportive. In addition, because of these innate abilities, the children will not feel sorry for themselves and will persist in their quest to survive.
I observed in the Liz Murray movie that each time she was going through a particularly difficult moment with her mother or father, her mind went back to when she was a child and her mother was demonstrating through different endearing actions how much she loved her daughter. Ms. Murray also had a deep emotional connection with her father who was the person who taught her a love for reading and the acquisition of knowledge. In the Prologue of her book Liz Murray starts by mentioning that she only has one picture of her mother and that she searches for similarities between her mother and herself. She even declares that she is not as pretty as her mother was at her age. There is no anger or resentment in those words. Researchers claim that even though the parents may be a source of stress (in this case drug addiction and neglect), a warm relationship with the parents offers the children protection against stress. A resilient child (remember highly intelligent and easy temperament), has the ability to separate problem behavior from genuine feelings and manifestations of love. Ms. Murray manifested her intellectual capacity in different ways. She hardly attended school because of her home situation but would show up when final exams were offered and always passed. She dropped out of school and returned to high school after her mother's death. In two years she completed all the high school requirements and graduated. She competed for a scholarship to attend Harvard offered by The New York Times and was successful. Obviously Ms. Murray is a person of above average intelligence. In an interview with Bruce Frankel and Bill Hewitt from People Magazine, Ms. Murray states, "I felt all this potential bubbling up inside of me that I wasn't putting to use. I knew I wanted to go back to school." Ms. Murray is an exceptional example of how high intelligence and easy temperament are essential components of resilience.
Of course, researchers do not all agree on the importance of genetics insofar as resilience is concerned, that is, on how much one’s genotype contributes and how much the environment contributes. However, it is my personal conviction that genetics is a very significant contributor. I can assuredly say that family interaction, spirituality, community support, genetics and personality all interact and contribute to our resilience. I also believe that our resilience continues to develop throughout our lives as we face and resolve the difficulties or afflictions we encounter every day.
Author unknown.
Works Cited
Condly, Steven J. “Resilience in Children: A Review of Literature with Implications for
Education.” Urban Education 41.3 (May 2006). Web. 20 Mar. 2012.
“Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story.” Lifetime Original Movie. Lifetime
Channel, 1 Jan. 2003.
Murray, Liz. “Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey
from Homeless to Harvard." New York: Hyperion, 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment