Leigh Anne and Collins Tuohy leave students with a challenge

Inspirations for the movie "Blind Side" encourage students to make a difference. Trent Bates/ UVU Review

Leigh Anne and Collins Tuohy, mother and daughter of the family that inspired the movie “The Blind Side,” spoke to students on campus last Tuesday urging them to make a difference.

“We all can do something. Every single person in this room if you were capable of getting yourself into this auditorium today then you are capable of doing something to help someone else,” said Leigh Anne. “Whatever it is you choose to do, just do it well.”

The Tuohys shared their experiences from the journey that inspired the blockbuster film, including how Michael Oher, a current NFL star, came into their lives and how his life was turned around. “This whole journey is so crazy,” said Leigh Anne.

After a rough childhood, Oher was taken into their home and eventually adopted by the Tuohy family. Today Oher plays for the Baltimore Ravens. “We’re in amazement every day of this story and the fact that Michael Oher who is a contributing, thriving member of society right now is where he is, it’s a miracle,” remarked Leigh Anne.

She urged those in attendance to not form opinions about people before they know them. “Someone today you will pass and in your mind you will place a value on them and the problem is a lot of times we don’t know the true value of that person,” she said.

She concluded by telling students, “It’s truly been an amazing journey, but I do challenge everyone here to make a difference. It’s human nature that we want to do good and there are ample things out there for us to do to make a difference.”

Collins Tuohy spoke about the process it took for their story to go from a book to the big screen. She also touched on some of her experiences while at college with Oher at the University of Mississippi.