Michael Jerome Oher

Michael Oher as a child. (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/)

How is it that we are able to stray away from our past, even if it is not forgettable? It is quite intriguing if someone can think about the next minutes of their life instead of dwelling upon an incident that occurred years ago. That is just what Michael Jerome Oher did. He grew up in an eerily treacherous part of Memphis, Tennessee, called Hurt Village. Everyone called him "Big Mike" when growing up because of his extreme body mass, although, inside of himself, he'd really preferred Michael. Michael had not been very talkative, nor had he had any social skills. People were cognizant of Michael's girth, strength, and somewhat of his athletic ability, so they feared him. However, the truth that had been hidden behind all of that muscle that was not yet revealed was that Michael, truly, was afraid of others.

Michael Oher and his mother, Leigh Ann Tuohy. (http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/image.axd?picture=12-02-09oher.jpg)

Michael was homeless most of his life because his father was deceased and his mother was accustomed to drugs. When he was seven, an event occurred in which police removed Michael and his twelve siblings from his mother. From time to time, he stayed with Tony Henderson, also known as "Big Tony," and his son, Steven Henderson. One day, Big Tony agreed to the orders given by his mother to transfer Steven from the public school system to participate in the Christian school system. Michael complied with joining them. Michael never knew what an actual family was until his junior year at Briarcrest, the Evangelical school Tony Henderson let him and Steven join.

Michael Oher and his family. (http://assets.espn.go.com/media/motion/2009/0425/dm_090425_nfl_michael_oher.jpg)

Michael did not have adequate grades, so starting his junior year, the administrators of Briarcrest wondered why he was there. Michael was not accustomed to understanding how to learn in a class. In fact, his teachers later figured out that he needed to be given his tests orally. Gradually, though, his grades increased. Michael's grades got good enough to where he was allowed to enter the athletic field. He soon adjusted to talking to people and had no fears of them. Later, he met a family, the Tuohys, that took him in. The Tuohy's became more than his friend; they were his family. This family included Leigh Ann Tuohy, mother; Sean Tuohy, father; Sean Tuohy Junior, son; and Collins Tuohy, daughter. They gave him a bed, Leigh Ann Tuohy bought him clothes instead of letting him stay in "those raggedy shoes, those shorts, and that T-shirt", Leigh Ann Tuohy gave Michael a private tutor, and even more. The first thing Michael asked for was a driver's license. Leigh Ann Tuohy not only did that but also adopted him in the process. I, personally, think that Leigh Ann Tuohy was most active in Michael's life.

Michael did not let the event that happened in his past affect him. He would always look ahead. Michael's grades may have been low, but he tested on a ninety-eighth percentile in one category: protective instincts. Starting his football journey, he had no idea how to work on a team. His coaches noticed his absence in understanding the sport but never had a solution, but Mrs. Tuohy did. She knew of his intellect in the protection area, so she spoke some sense into him that way. The next thing others saw was Michael being a brute on the football field! Michael would sometimes have a burning fire within him, too. One game, Briarcrest had been going against Munford. One of the players would make an irrational comment toward Michael after each play and attack him. During one play, Michael got so angry that he drove the player about fifteen yards, took a left into the Munford bench, sprinted further, ran across the ten-yard track, and pinned him against the fence until the whistle was blown. This was about sixty yards total! His coach asked where he was bringing him, and Michael replied, "I was taking him to the bus. He needed to go home."

Michael Oher's football picture. (http://blackchristiannews.com/news/images/big-man-on-campus-01-af.jpg)

Michael was hysterical as a football player. All colleges wanted him across the nation. He chose Ole Miss because that was where his family went, and he did not want to be left out of the family. Michael Oher was drafted in the first round as the twenty-third pick for NFL. Michael Oher began his life with no family until all of a sudden an average family pulled him in. They literally changed his life as he did theirs. Michael was always focused on the future and shut his eyes to his past. Michael was a true friend to all and a very special family member. To me, Michael is a true hero!