Last weeks reading ended with Michael feeling at home with the Tuohy's and realizing his own football potential. This week's reading started with Michael digging into his past so he could apply for a drivers licence. In order to get his licence, Michael needed legal proof that he existed; like a social security card, birth certificate, or proof of residency. Leigh Anne sent Michael to visit his mother in Hurt Village, to get his birth certificate. Michael returned with a birth certificate that didn't match up with his childhood. His name on the birth certificate was Michael Jerome Williams, instead of Oher, and his birthday said May 26th, but he had always celebrated his birthday on the 28th. Michael didn't care and said that the birth certificate "had it wrong". Leigh Anne then took Michael to the DMV to take his test, which he ended up passing. Michael was out driving SJ( Sean Junior), when he slid on ice and collided with a big rig truck. SJ was rushed to the hospital, where he was told that he was extremely lucky to be alive.When Leigh Anne told Michael that SJ was going to be ok, Michael showed her the burn on his arm from the air bag, and told Leigh Anne that he blocked the air bag in front of SJ. Michael was not the most intelligent person around, but he had protective instincts and a big heart. Michael was being approached by numerous colleges offering scholarships and a starting position as left tackle. Michael narrowed down his choices to LSU, University of Tennessee, and Ole Miss. Each of the head coaches from these teams came to the Tuohy's house for dinner to try and convince Michael to pick their school. Michael asked very little questions and just let the coaches talk to Leigh Anne and SJ. Ed Orgeron, the new Ole Miss coach, was the only coach that Michael showed interest in. Michael asked him questions and received the answers he wanted to hear. Coach O was honest with Michael and took him seriously. Later that month, Michael announced that he would be following in his family's footsteps, and playing playing for the Ole Miss Rebels.  |
| Michael & SJ |
During this week's reading, I got to know Michael more as a person than a football player. I read about how he played mini basketball with SJ in his room, how he and Collins argued like siblings, and how Leigh Anne came to be his mother. Michael Lewis does such an amazing job describing the Tuohy's family life, that it makes you feel apart of their magic. I have watched Michael transform from a poor boy from the projects with one change of clothes, to a proper boy with a family who loves him. Reading about each of Michael's visits with the college coaches makes me wonder about college and how I would feel if in his shoes. Michael is faced with the decision of choosing the school that he wants to go to, or the school his family wants him to go. In the end, I understand why Michael picked Ole Miss over Tennessee. For the past sixteen years Michael has had no direction; he was a waste of space in his mother's eyes, and a dumb kid with no hope in his teacher's eyes. The Tuohy's have become Michael's family, and he wants to be just like them. By going to Ole Miss, Michael is fulfilling his dreams of having a bright future, and a connection to his family.
This is a video of Sean & Collins Tuohy talking about how Michael's Tutor changed his life
Focus Question: How has living with the Tuohys changed Michael's attitude and View on life as a whole?
Living with the Tuohy family has changed Michael for the better. He now has people that love him unconditionally and care about his future. Growing up in Hurt Village, Michael was surrounded by drugs, alcohol, and gang violence. Nobody ever cared enough to teach him basic etiquette or read him a bedtime story. His teachers gave him straight D's so that he could pass him along and not have to deal with him ever again. He had no value. The Tuohy family gave him value, they saw him as a real person with a big heart. They took him into their home and gave him a new life. They nurtured him and introduced him to football, and for the first time in his life, Michael felt loved. Michael feels at home with the Tuohy's and trusts Leigh Anne like a real mother. Michael realized his strength and abilities and he worked hard to become the top high school left tackle. The Tuohy's have invested time in Michael and have groomed and taught him to be the best man he could be. If Michael hadn't met the Tuohys, he could still be stuck in Hurt Village dealing drugs or stealing cars to make money. Michael's attitude has changed from " I don't know" to " I care", he stands up strong for what he believes in and protects his family. Michael protected SJ during the car accident because of the values the Tuohy family had taught him; family always comes first. The Tuohy family has changed Michael's attitude and view on life for the better, and he has changed theirs.
