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

Now that you’ve completed I Beat The Odds, reflect upon the book’s title. What, exactly, are the “odds” that Oher refers to in the title? Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question:

• How did the foster care system create contribute to the odds against Oher?
• How did racism disadvantage Oher?
• How did Oher’s biological family create difficult circumstances for him?
• Were there any other obstacles that Oher had to overcome?

Teaching Suggestion: Use this question to help students take a bird’s-eye view of the numerous ways in which Oher was disadvantaged. From racism to the foster care system to difficulties at school, there were numerous kinds of “odds” that Oher had to overcome to become the success he is today. The purpose of this prompt is to give students an even greater appreciation for Oher’s success, how he’s moved so far beyond The Plight of Foster Children and At-Risk Youth through a combination of skill, passion, and Personal Initiative.

Differentiation Suggestion: For advanced classes, you may also want to discuss another layer of “odds” that affected Oher, which is his conflict with the Tuohys that emerged as of August 2023. Oher briefly discusses in I Beat the Odds some of the complex feelings he had about his negative portrayal in The Blind Side, but, in 2023, new details emerged about the Oher’s challenging (and potentially abusive) relationship with the Tuohys.