The Story of Struggle and Success in The Blind Side by Michael Lewis

The book The Blind Side by Michael Lewis is a book about whose life started with tragedy and ended up having a great turn of events in his life. Michael Oher a homeless black teen, has drifted in and out of the school system for years. Then Leigh Anne Tuohy and her husband, Sean takes him in. The Tuohys eventually become Michael's legal guardians, transforming both his life and theirs. Michael's tremendous size and protective instincts make him a formidable force on the gridiron, and with help from his new family and tutor, he realizes his potential as a student and football player.

Michael is one of thirteen children by a mother who is addicted to crack, at one point Michael didn’t even know his real name at first, his father, his birthday, or how to read or write. He took up football, and school, after his very wealthy family who picked him up right off the street when he was walking around on a dark cold rainy night wearing a golf collared shirt and basketball shorts. When the Tuohy’s fully adopted Michael he attended Winfield high school and played football for them Michael struggled in school a lot due to his lack of reading and writing skills. Michael who has a daily tutor Ms. Sue that would come and help him study, work on his homework, and help him get prepared for college. After the tutoring, each tutoring session is over Mrs. Tuohy reads him a book called Ferdinand the bull in the story Mrs. Tuohy reads Michael that book because she feels the little bull relates to him.

Not only did Michael struggle in school he also struggled in football. Michael never played football before the game was completely new to him. The coach from the team wanted Michael to play because of his size. Michael was always yelled at if he did something wrong during practice which made Michael get very nervous and lose his confidence. Therefore Mrs. Tuohy was at every practice this and during practice pulled Micheal off the side of the field and stated “ This is your quarterback you protect his blind when you look at him you think of me how you always have my back and how you have his, this team is your family Michael protect it”. Every snap Michael played on the field he thought of his mom stating the quote to him. Michael had gotten a lot smarter as his high school career continued on. Michael now headed off to college at the University of Mississippi just like Mrs. Tuohy, Mr. Tuohy, and Ms. Sue. Michael was the star football of the football team there and later on got drafted by the Baltimore Ravens to play left tackle in the NFL. A quote from the story states “when you open your eyes the past is gone the world is a good place a bright future is awaiting you and it’s all going to be okay” - Michael Oher.