Monique Howard's Tale of Redemption: A Classic Hollywood Story Come to Life

Most of you have probably never heard of Monique Howard, but her name belongs up there with Michael Oher—and other athletes who have had their lives brought to the big screen. 

Howard is a 16-year-old high school football player from Detroit—a starting offensive lineman for the Pershing Doughboys. Her inspiring story was documented by Eric Adelson of The PostGame.

Howard found herself on a dark path with no real hope for the future. She didn't get along with her mother, was kicked off the basketball team for fighting with a teammate and was told to transfer. 

Adelson writes:

"

"This is the kind of story we hear all the time, about aggressive kids in urban settings. They get into fights, they leave school, they spiral. And in this case, it got worse. Last summer, Howard and her mother had a falling out. 'We just didn't see eye to eye,' Howard says. 'I never liked to be in the house. I'm an active person. She always wanted me to be in the house. She said I put basketball before everything.'"

"

But that is where Howard's story took a turn for the better. She was saved by Shawn Hill, Pershing's basketball coach, who gave her a place to live and served as her surrogate father. 

Some time later, Howard was discovered by Pershing's football coach and the rest, as they say, is history:

"

"Howard is 190 pounds and almost none of it fat. The girl was strong. But an offensive lineman? We've heard of the star kicker being a girl. But this? Of the 44,000 or so Michigan high school football players to take the field each year, an average of 36 are girls. Nobody in Detroit had ever heard of a girl playing in the trenches—let alone protecting a quarterback from oncoming lineman up to 100 pounds heavier.

–snip– 

Head coach Charles Spann was skeptical and put her through the difficult fall practice paces. Mojo held up. Actually, she did better than hold up. She earned a starting spot. And in her first game in August, she blocked a defender so hard he landed on his back. Mojo had to be told to 'get off him.'"

"

In today's world, where teenagers are tempted with drugs, alcohol and any number of things that can throw them off the beaten path, it is refreshing to hear an uplifting story about someone who  was able to overcome such adversity.

A lot of people would have given up, but Howard never did. She was helped by many people that wanted to see her succeed. 

Howard's turnaround is one of the most inspirational stories of the year, and she deserves praise for the way she has gotten back on track. No one knows what the future holds, but at least she can look forward proudly thanks to the choices she has made.