I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond

Oher started staying with Tony’s family, as he knew life with his mother would never be normal: “even though it was only a temporary solution, what came out of it changed my life forever” (111).

Tony’s mother always wanted a Christian education for her grandson Steve, so the summer before Oher’s sophomore year, Tony looked for an appropriate school. Oher wanted to follow Steve; Tony visited a number of schools, but always received the same answer: They’d accept Steve but not Oher, because the latter’s academic record was lacking. The man kept at it until he found a school that both boys could attend: Briarcrest Christian School. The school agreed to accept both boys if Oher completed a program called Gateway Academy, which helped students catch up in their studies.

Steve initially struggled at Briarcrest due to its faster pace and higher level of work, but soon grew accustomed to it. Oher, on the other hand, felt like he wasn’t making progress at Gateway. He realized he never learned how to properly study and needed help. He didn’t give up, and his teachers could see how hard he was trying. Tony finally convinced Briarcrest to admit Oher regardless of his level in various subjects.