Michael Oher: Childhood to Service

8/31/2023

Michael Oher understands as much as anyone what it is like to grow up underprivileged. Born in Memphis Tennessee, he lived a very difficult childhood. He was born to a family of 12 siblings, a father frequently in and out of prison, and a mother addicted to crack cocaine. He struggled in school, he had to repeat the 1st and 2nd grades and transferred to eleven different high schools in just 9 years. He was in and out of various foster homes until Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy adopted him and sent him to a private high school. Once earning a stable living condition, he thrived beyond expectations. He impressed as a junior in the school football program, becoming the varsity offensive tackle his senior year. That year his father was murdered in prison.Despite so much adversity, with the opportunity for a stable and promising life, he shined, drawing attention from Division 1 programs. His profile as a recruit increased, being named an All-American by USA Today and being invited to the annual US Army All-American Bowl. He received scholarship offers from some of the nation's premier programs including Tennessee and Alabama universities among others. He chose however to commit to the football powerhouse Ole Miss and went on to have a successful career in the NFL. But as Oher left football behind, he decided his next move would be to aid others in similar positions that he was in. 

Oher is most well known for the biopic movie “The Blind Side” made about his rags-to-riches struggle to the NFL. However, he recently launched his own Nashville-based charity, to hopefully help kids not have to endure the same struggles he did. His foundation looks to grant scholarships to certain underprivileged children, which was something that greatly helped Oher in his childhood. He was clear with what kind with the specificity of what kind of kids he wanted to help first, "I’m looking for a kid who’s not gonna have opportunities, but who’s a great kid who’s going to be a great influence on society," he said. In the first round of 20 applicants 2 middle school girls were selected. These children are not chosen based on athletic talent or merit, instead, Oher is solely focusing on giving those that he feels have potential the tools to succeed. 

In underprivileged neighborhoods, the quality of education and cultures at public schools may make it difficult for students with hardships at home. Oher explained his rationale for sending them to private schools, "I want kids to go someone where they’re accepted right away and have an impact, and teachers see potential and pour into them on a consistent basis.” Private schools often have better resources and provisions for individual students. As it also did for Michael, social influence may play a role in scholarship students’ success. He recalled the volatility of his childhood, "Even as a kid, I could see being a junkie and being on drugs just wasn’t a good thing," he said. "I saw how it destroyed my family. I knew what was right from wrong."

He shared he spent many nights in his youth sleeping on friends' couches or on the streets during periods of foster home transitions. He wants to give kids the opportunity to “chase their dreams” by taking out the financial barriers both he and many faced. He insisted on the importance that recipients exhibit "strength of character" and "work ethic," which were qualities he saw in himself early on. Of all those in need of help he aims to aid those in the most need first, “I’m looking for a kid who’s not gonna have opportunities, but who’s a great kid who’s going to be a great influence on society,” he said. 

Oher has ambitious future plans. He wants the organization to someday be one of the premier scholarship programs in the country. He intends to expand the reach of his program to major U.S. cities. He also hopes to build learning centers and even “learning villages” for students to be given more provisions than just financial.

Michael Oher shows how football in the long run is not about the glory, accolades, or awards, many of which he already has. Instead, he recognized the larger picture, how the sport simply served as a vessel for him to succeed, but was aware that other kids who face hardships need opportunities to find their vessels to success. His actions also speak to the phenomenon of the humanitarian effect that football seems to have on its players. Many players pursue philanthropy after their careers. Oher chooses though to help those he feels the most related to first, to have the equal opportunity at living life as he has. 

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Works Cited

McEvoy, Colin. "Michael Oher." Biography.com, 29 Sept. 2023, www.biography.com/athletes/michael-oher.

Schmitt, Brad. "That guy whose story is told in 'The Blind Side'? He wants to help impoverished local kids." Tennessean, 7 Aug. 2023, www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2023/08/07/michael-oher-of-the-blind-side-has-charity-to-lift-nashville-kids-out-of-poverty/70485564007/.