Michael Oher Ideology

Memoir Analysis: Main Idea/Rhetorical Appeals (Ethos)

“I can control my destiny, but not my fate. Destiny means there are opportunities to turn right or left, but fate is a one-way street. I believe we all have the choice as to whether we fulfil our destiny, but our fate is sealed.” Before Michael Oher’s life of fame, there was a very sad story. Seventy percent of children who outgrow foster care desire to attend college, however, only ten percent actually fulfill their dreams. Only one out of those ten will complete his or her degree. Disturbingly, a large percentage of children who outgrow the foster care system end up homeless after less than a year. Oher worked hard throughout his entire high school years, graduated from the University

Homeless at the time, Oher was invited to stay with Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy during Thanksgiving break. A year later, Oher was adopted by the Tuohy family. Oher began to play basketball, football and ran track at Briarcrest after he managed to make academic progress. After a labor intensive senior year of high school, Oher earned a football scholarship to play for the University of Mississippi, Ole Miss. Originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2009, Oher plays offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers. Oher’s story is documented within the book The Blind Side written by Michael Lewis and the 2009 movie The Blind Side, directed by John Lee Hancock.

Michael Oher demonstrates the main idea, beating the odds, is his desire to leave his stolen childhood and fulfill his destiny. For a large part of his life, Oher lived in a run down, dangerous “ghetto” surrounded by poverty, violence, gang fights and drug abuse. His mother was on cocaine and would leave Oher and his young siblings to fend for themselves. Oher knew that the only way out of his situation was to go to school, obtain a football scholarship and complete college. At the age of thirteen, Oher decided to leave Hurt Village and accomplish his

In order for his grades to improve, the Tuohys hired a tutor for Michael Oher, Miss Sue Mitchell. She would tutor Oher five nights a week, four hours each day, or however long it took for Oher to understand the material. She would never lose her patience with Michael no matter how much he struggled. Most tutors aid students for a paycheck, however, she was more interested in seeing Oher prosper academically. Eventually, with her help, Oher made the honor roll his senior year. She became a large part of his success throughout high school and college and beating the odds.

To conclude, the main idea throughout the book I Beat the Odds, written by Michael Oher with Don Yaeger, is despite the odds, Michael Oher fulfilled his dreams. He did so by surrounding himself with positive role models and great friends. If he did not do so, he would have been a victim of his own fate. It is very uplifting to see Oher succeed after living such a depressing childhood. Without his desire for a better life, he would not have fulfilled his destiny of becoming such a great athlete and person he is