Unit 2 Achilles Heel

Teresa Perales Fernández 

Born in Zaragoza on 29 December 1975, is a Paralympic swimmer who won two gold medals at the 2004 Summer Paralympics and then three more gold medals at the 2008 Summer Paralympics. She won her first medals at the 2000 Summer Paralympics.  


At the 2012 Summer Paralympics she served as her country's flag-bearer  and won a gold medal at 100m freestyle, three silver medals at 50m and 200m freestyle and 50m butterfly and two bronze medals at 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke reaching the 22 medals in her career. In addition to swimming she is an Aragonese Party politician.

Essay 2
The Blind Side

“The Blind Side” film is the story of Michael Oher , a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player with the help of a caring woman and her family . This movie is about the power of love and the importance of family as the center of our life. The change that happened  inside Michael’s life is reflected when he can achive all his dreams . This is a story of effort and courage to become a better person. For these reasons , “ The Blind Side” exalts family values, Michael`s  role as a teenager , and the support provided to Michael to meet his goals.

Michael was homeless and did not have the love and protection of a family. Family is what gives us a sense of belonging and security in adolescence. Michael's family was disfunctional, and he did not know his brothers and his mother was an alcoholic. When he is received by the Tuohy family , he learns  about family  union. This family shows the values ​​of respect, acceptance, understanding, and love.

Adolescence is a difficult time, a period of physical and psychological changes from childhood  to adulthood. Michael did not have a role model; he was aloneand was surrounded by criminals where he used to live. Adolescence defines what we will do in the future. Michael needed the guidance and support of a family to achieve his talent emerging towards sports and study.

Through "The Blind Side", the influence of family to succeed is a key element  for  Michael to achieve what he wanted. He had the friendship of the Tuohy children, who urged him to strive. Without the influence of the adoptive mother, and perseverance to make Michael give his best, Michael’s achievements would not be true. This movie touches the depths of our soul,changing the  marginal life of a boy with no future in society as someone to admire.

I think about the importance of families or communities,  which generously welcome those whose life have not  smiled to them. This story encourages us to be people with more humanity to the problems and pain of others. Our role in life is to help those we can give a helping hand.  We are masters of our destiny, and we can change the destiny of others. In football, “ The Blind Side”  refers to the part of the field the player can not see, so when he gets tackled from the blind side, it is often an intense impact. In the movie, I assume it also refers to the unexpected impact  a  family  has bringing when Michael  to their life.