By Amy Notarius
Rowan Public Library
If you saw the movie ěThe Blind Sideî or follow professional football, you already know the story of Michael Oher, who went from being homeless to playing in the NFL.
In fact, some may wonder why Oher wrote his new autobiography, ěI Beat the Odds: From Homelessness to The Blind Side, and Beyondî when so much of his story has already been told.
As Oher explains in the bookís prologue, he wrote ěOddsî for the nearly 500,000 children living in foster care or state-run systems across the country. Oher knows that many of these children are hurting, scared and feel hopeless about their future. Each week he receives hundreds of letters, and even more children share their personal stories with him after his speaking engagements. Throughout the book, Oher seems to be speaking directly to them.
Despite the instability of life with his mother, who cycles between drug addiction and rehabilitation, Oher is happiest when he, his mother and all 11 siblings are together. But his mother canít care for them properly; they are separated and placed into Tennesseeís foster care system.
At first, the foster homes provide stability for Oher, because he is required to go to school, do homework and complete some household chores. But he is moved often, and attends several schools in a year, sometimes spending only a few weeks at one school. Itís impossible to keep up academically.
In 1993, when Oher is in the second grade, he watches the Chicago Bulls win the national championship for the third year in a row. Heís inspired by Michael Jordan and believes sports can be his way to escape the drugs, gangs and violence around him.
By eighth grade, Oher is 5-foot -11 and playing varsity sports. Heís athletically gifted, but with no role models or mentors, he has no help academically. A coach of Oherís who is trying to get his own son into a small private school helps Oher enroll at the same school.
As many know from the movie, Oherís life changes dramatically while at this school when the well-off Tuohy family takes an interest in him. Oher, who desperately wanted his own family to stay together, soon feels at home in the supportive and stable environment the Tuohys provide.
To many, this part of his story seems like a fairy tale, a chance happening that became Oherís only way out. But he had been determined to get an education, and he worked hard to enter and remain at that school before ever meeting the Tuohys.
This is the message he wants foster children to hear. His story may be unique in some ways, but success is not out of reach for others who stay in school, work hard, and believe in themselves. Less than half of the children in foster care graduate from high school, and many find themselves homeless at 18 when they ěage outî of the system.
As determined as he was to improve his own circumstances, Oher also wants to be the best role model he can be, offering hope, inspiration and advice to others in need. Check out ěI Beat the Oddsî at Rowan Public Library today.
Computer classes: Classes are free. Sessions are approximately 90 minutes. Class size is limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Dates and times at all locations are subject to change without notice.
Headquarters ó Monday, 7 p.m. Website Designs, Part 1; June 13, 7 p.m., Website Design, Part 2; June 21, 2 p.m., Email Tips and Tricks. Basic computer skills and an email account are required for all three classes above.
June 27, 7 p.m., Absolute Beginners.
East (registration required for East only) ó June 9, 1 p.m., Introduction to Online Genealogy.
Birthday Bash: Headquarters, June 5, 1-5 p.m., celebrate Rowan Public Libraryís 100th birthday with activities and entertainment for all ages, including the Bar None Barbershop Quartet; refreshments and a special ceremony at 3 p.m. The Henderson Law Office, which served as the first library facility in Rowan County and is on the current library site, will also be open for tours.
Summer Family Movie Night at Headquarters ó Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., ěPercy Jackson and the Lightning Thiefî; June 21, 6:30 p.m., ěDiary of a Wimpy Kid.î Part of the centennial celebration. All movies are rated G, PG or PG 13 ó some movies are inappropriate for younger audiences. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Free popcorn and lemonade.
Guitarist at South Rowan Regional Library ó June 14, 7 p.m., guitarist Comer ěMoonî Mullins, a singer and songwriter. He has performed on radio, screen, television and stage. Mullins performs throughout the South and Midwest.
RPL and N.C. Humanities present ěStill Cookiní î ó Headquarters, June 28, 7 p.m. Dr. Mary Ellis Gibson will trace the history of Southern foodtalk in cookbooks and in fiction. A reception and a chance to chat with Gibson will follow. This project is made possible by a grant from the N.C Humanities Council.
Childrenís Program ó This summer the Rowan Public Library invites kids to join the library for a summer of great reads with One World, Many Stories.
The kick-off will be Saturday, June 11, from 10:30 a.m.-noon at the South Rowan Regional location in China Grove and the East Branch in Rockwell; and Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m.-noon at headquarters in Salisbury.
Weekly programs begin on June 13 and run until July 28. New for this year, limited family programs at Cleveland Town Hall. Prizes are awarded for every five, 10, 15 and 20 hours read, and door prizes are given at the school-aged programs.
Program groups and times:
12-24-month-olds: Mondays, 10:30 a.m., East Branch; Tuesdays, 11 am, Headquarters; Thursdays, 10:30 am, South Library (four-week program).
2-year-olds: 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, East Branch; Wednesdays, South Library; Thursdays, Headquarters (four-week program).
3- to 5-year-olds: 10:30 a.m. Mondays, South Library; Wednesdays, Headquarters; Thursdays, East Branch (seven-week program).
Rising first- through fifth- graders: Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., South Library; Wednesdays, 2 p.m., Headquarters; Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., East Branch; Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., Cleveland Town Hall, select programs only; (seven-week program).
June 13-16: Mark Daniel, Incredible World, Fantastic Stories & Magical Books;
June 20-22: Didgeridoo Down Under, Australian Adventure;
June 27-30: Marian the Librarian.
Calling all teens: Travel the globe with ěYou Are Hereî ó There are many ways for teens to see the world this summer at the library. Starting June 13 and running through July 28, all rising sixth-graders to 12th-graders are invited to participate in events at the library. Teens can earn library dollars to bid on prizes provided by the Friends of Rowan Public Library.
Programs are:
World Tour Australia: Identify world coins and learn about Australia ó Headquarters, Salisbury, June 14, 3:30-5 p.m.; East Branch, Rockwell, June 15, 3:30-5 p.m.; South Rowan Regional, China Grove, June 17, 3:30- 5 p.m.
South America: Learn about South America and make a pinata or necklace óheadquarters, June 21, 3:30-5 p.m.; East Branch, June 22, 3:30-5 p.m., South Rowan Regional, June 23, 3:30-5 p.m.
Asia: Learn about countries in Asia and play a Japanese game show ó Headquarters, June 28, 3:30-5 p.m.; East Branch, June 29, 3:30-5 p.m.; South Rowan Regional, June 30, 3:30-5 p.m.
Also this summer, the library is offering a Parent and Family Reading Workshop from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 27, at Headquarters in Salisbury.
For more information please check the library website at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or call your closest RPL location ó Headquarters, 704-216-8234; South Rowan Regional, 704-216-7728; East Branch, 704-216-7842.
Displays:Headquarters ó photography and pottery by Emily Walls; Lee Street Theatre by Robert Jones; South ń collectible toy soldiers from different wars by Steven Wise; East ó art by Colleen Walton.
Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.