Michael Oher

Michael Oher commits to Ole Miss (Media.scout.com)

Michael Oher is a real hero because of what he did to get where he is. He overcame tough obstacles, academically and financially, to succeed at the highest level of football. This is the mark of a true hero. Sometimes heroes are called heroes because of their wealth, social status, and appearance at exclusive events. Those people are not really heroes. A hero is someone who works hard in the classroom and in his or her field, overcomes obstacles, and achieves lifelong goals.

Oher overcame the massive stereotypical and academic odds against him. Society offered only their sympathy to his situation, and expected him to fail. Oher could have turned to a life of crime and drugs. "His massive size,(he was 6'2 350 pounds at age fifteen) made him an ideal recruit for gangs."(abc2today.com) Even though this bad influence was all around him, he was able to think beyond it. He once said, "It was easy for me to say, you know I want to hang out, you know with these guys and you know do drugs and you know not go to school. I decided I didn't want to do it. I wanted to be something in life." (Susserland). He shied away from peer pressure to lead a healthy lifestyle and become what he is today. Academically, Oher entered Briarcrest high school without a proper transcript and a 0.3 GPA. He was allowed in solely on the recommendation of Hugh Freeze, the head football coach of Briarcrest. In 2003, he was taken in by the Touhys. Sean, Leanne, Collins and RJ Touhy were a wealthy, conservative, white family. They immediately hired a private tutor to help him along. He went from a measured I.Q. of 80, which put him in the ninth percentile to a man with grades high enough to play Division I college football. Oher graduated with a 2.6 GPA and went on to make the South Eastern Football Conferences All-Academic team and was on the dean's list when he graduated, all the while still working with his tutor.

Michael Oher gets drafted In the first round by t (Getty Images)

Oher has unbelievable skill and dedication to the game of football. His hard work and determination on the field is a reflection of his dedication and hard work in the classroom. Michael Oher was a highly recruited prospect coming out of Briarcrest. In fact, he was so good that, "after a large group of coaches saw him play against the best defensive lineman at Briarcrest, many offered him full ride scholarships on the spot." (The Blind Side). Also, his highlight film was sent in to recruiting companies as were millions of tapes from around the country. However, once the head recruiting coordinator of one of the companies saw his first highlight film, he instantly sent it to division I college coaches around the nation, an unusual occurrence. After eventually committing to Ole Miss in 2004, Oher soon became the starter at left tackle and started there for all four years of his illustrious college career, winning many awards. Eventually his outstanding play earned him a spot on the All-America team, which is a huge honor for any college football player. "After originally deciding to forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft, he decided to return for his senior year" (OleMissRebels.com). He was picked by the Baltimore Ravens with the nineteenth pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. He won the starting job in training camp as a rookie and has started there all season for the Ravens, protecting second year quarterback Joe Flacco's blindside.

He overcame the stereotypical and academic odds against him. Most people in society would not believe that a poor, black teenager in Memphis could get out of the ghetto to become a rich successful person. He also gave his best in the classroom. He brought his grades up astoundingly. He is an inspiration to strive to play college football. He is also a role model when it comes to making good choices such as staying away from drugs and alcohol. He came from the poor ghettos of West Memphis, lived with many families, barely knew his own family, and had poor grades. He worked hard to attain a scholarship and had many great honors in all levels of the game. He brought his grades up and gained many friends at Briarcrest. He went from a poor boy roaming the streets with literally nothing but the clothes on his back and an extra shirt three sizes too big for him, and blossomed into a rich, successful young man who earned his money the right way, through hard work. Another reason that Oher is an inspiration is his willingness and determination to succeed by making good decisions. He was surrounded by his peers and even adults, supposed "role models" who were doing drugs, and drinking alcohol. Oher made the decision to stay away from those things and gang life in spite of these bad influences. This defines him as a hero. Only a true hero could face such things and come out fighting. He ended up becoming very successful. To him, the money and fame are only added bonuses that come with doing what he loves.