A Theme Of The Role Of Decisions In The Film The Blind Side

The Blind Side movie tells the story of a teenage boy from Africa who is adopted by a family of white parents. Michael Oher, “Big Mike”, the adopted boy, was homeless for a long time and had learning impairments. Big Mike’s coach found out that Oher was not only a skilled football player, but also lacked confidence. Oher had to pass a rigorous academic test to be eligible for the American Football Scholarship. Oher was supported by his Caucasian family who helped him to overcome learning difficulties using alternate learning methods that were recommended by his school teachers. The film’s main focus is on homelessness and illiteracy which are significant problems for many minority communities. The film was intended to teach the public that people who are facing education illiteracy or homelessness can overcome these difficulties and succeed in life. He was homeless because of his economic difficulties, but the Oher family was Caucasian and allowed him to go to school to get the education tools he needed to excel in academics. One of his teachers noticed that the student struggled to read and write and suggested an alternative teaching strategy. It helped him achieve great academic results.

Persons who are homeless or are illiterate in education can also overcome these problems if their efforts and determination are focused. Oher knew that his new family offered him the opportunity to succeed and grow in life. Oher made a greater effort to get the American football scholarship. The main character had one goal: to get one of the highly coveted American football scholarships. Many universities search for footballers to represent their colleges and then offer full scholarships. Different universities saw his talent and offered him multiple deals. Oher was ultimately responsible for choosing from among the many universities that offered him scholarships. The athlete was responsible for making his own decision without the support of his family. Oher had to make a careful decision in selecting the University that was right for him. Oher had to see the proposals from each university representative in order for them to convince him to accept their invitations. Oher considered numerous factors, including the scholarship package, when making his decision. Oher’s GPA was the main obstacle. The final score of Oher’s test would have determined if the athlete would be granted the scholarship. The athlete was required to take decisions on his own to avoid being disqualified.

Oher’s rise from poverty in a family with no stability and facing financial challenges should be a teaching experience for all people who are poor or have limited opportunities. If offered, help should be given to the disadvantaged. People who offer assistance should not expect any return. Instead, the goal of those who provide assistance should be to make their beneficiaries successful in their daily lives. The goal of educators is to learn the needs of students and then use the appropriate teaching techniques to help them succeed. Finally, the film shows that Americans still have a dream. It is possible to achieve it if you work hard and focus on your challenges. You can trust the system.

Cites

Johnson, B., Kosove, A., Netter, G. (Producers), & Hancock, L. J. (2009). Motion picture of The Blind Side United States of America: Alcon Entertainment.

Chaffee, J. (2003). A guide to thinking critically. Boston, MA: Wadsworth.

Author

  • jacobcunningham

    Jacob Cunningham is a 26-year-old education blogger and teacher who resides in the Pacific Northwest. Jacob's teaching and writing focus on the use of technology in the classroom, and he is a frequent presenter at education conferences around the country. Jacob's work has been featured on sites such as The Huffington Post, Edutopia, and TechCrunch.

jacobcunningham

jacobcunningham

Jacob Cunningham is a 26-year-old education blogger and teacher who resides in the Pacific Northwest. Jacob's teaching and writing focus on the use of technology in the classroom, and he is a frequent presenter at education conferences around the country. Jacob's work has been featured on sites such as The Huffington Post, Edutopia, and TechCrunch.