Dear Sir,

I am writing to your column once again with reference to the article that appeared in The Royal Gazette on October 25, 2017, titled “Breaking down social barriers”, where Amanda Neal Robinson is helping Toronto communities through values-driven rugby.

I’m totally not surprised with all that she is doing for these children, working with Toronto Inner City Rugby Foundation.

Amanda has always been steadfast with anything she gets involved with and will see it through to completion.

This comes from her early days as a student at BHS, where she excelled in her studies, also playing major roles in the main productions during her time at school, including Oliver, which was amazing.

She was acting with another BHS alum who is now very famous in New York City — Rebecca Faulkenberry.

Amanda was a regular on the Mix 106 radio station as a DJ when home in Bermuda during her summer breaks from college and acquired quite a following when she was on the airwaves, which was a plus for her studies at Ryerson University.

Of course, I am very biased about Amanda; after all she is my goddaughter. She has certainly made her family and I so very proud with all her early achievements. And now, as a young woman, she is achieving even greater accolades, giving these children pride and hope for their future, which might not have happened if people such as Amanda had not seen a need and got involved. Starting with the rugby pitch and a game of rugby.

I am positive that her late father, James, would be over the moon with Amanda. He sure did love her without question.

Bermuda has some really amazing children in our schools — black, white, biracial and other.

They are all doing great things, getting on with life as it presents itself. Looking forward, not backward.

We should all be very proud of their many accomplishments in high school, in college and in sport, etc. Encourage always.

This can only get better with time. Remember these children are Bermuda’s tomorrow. Let’s encourage each of them to reach for the stars and beyond. As like our Amanda Neal Robinson is doing in Canada.

How I love writing on a most positive subject; not negative or sad.

We are so blessed to be able to call this island of Bermuda our home and to have Amanda Neal Robinson represent all of us who call Bermuda our home.

May God bless all parents and guardians of these truly amazing children. Remember, it doesn’t happen on its own. Thanks for doing it right,

H. GORDY GIBBONS, Paget