GoodHeart | Dear Cole, love Mom
Romae Gordon congratulates son on PEP performance in heartfelt letter
Published:Saturday | August 2, 2025 | 12:07 AM
On the last Thursday in June, the lawn of Liguanea Preparatory School buzzed with excitement. Parents and families filled the space, eager to witness a proud Jamaican tradition. Then came the cue – Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us pulsed through the speakers, and the applause erupted as students marched in.
It was graduation season, and Jamaicans take these milestones seriously. Whether for kindergarteners or pre-teens, the full regalia – cap, gown, sash, and collar corsage – is non-negotiable. With décor, sound systems, student performances and carefully timed speeches, the celebrations are often elaborate.
“Honestly, for me, a simple recognition service with students acknowledged for completing their years at primary level would have been more than adequate,” said Romae Gordon, former co-managing director of fashion and lifestyle at Pulse, and proud parent of one of this year’s top Primary Exit Profile (PEP) performers. “But I am in the minority.”
She did admit, though, that the graduation service was a good one.
However, behind the smiles, Gordon was holding something deeper. For her, this moment was more than a school event. It marked the triumph of her son, Cole, who had completed the PEP exams with top honours – despite carrying one of the heaviest burdens of his young life.
Cole Gordon Cooper is the son of the late Kingsley Cooper, founder and chairman of Pulse Investments Limited, and attorney-at-law, who passed away in 2024.
“Your Grade 5 PEP year will be forever marked by the loss of your dad,” Gordon wrote in a heartfelt letter to Cole. “As the raw emotions engulfed us, the pain and grief were immense... This could have meant failure for the brightest student, even in near perfect conditions. But not you.”
Cole’s Grade 6 experience came with further challenges. He was ill with the flu for two of the three PEP exam days – but he showed up anyway. “At ages 10 and 11, your resilience was remarkable,” she said. “Even with the support of your family, you could have succumbed to the terrible reality of this colossal loss. Yet you clearly employed the lessons and training that helped you overcome your sorrow to push through and succeed.”
Gordon is quick to point out that Cole didn’t do it alone. “The value and contribution of a good community cannot be overstated – it is vital to keeping children on the path to achieving academic excellence.”
At the heart of Cole’s village was what Gordon calls his nucleus: his grandmother Gigi, his Aunt Deeg, and his teachers. “Your teachers, whom you adequately credited in your valedictory speech, deserve the praise. Though you challenged them every chance you got, very often to their annoyance, they proudly shared in the celebration of your success.”
Structure at home was just as important. “My insistence that you have limited screen time during school days, with even further limitations during exam prep, was part of the strategy,” she said. “Many days you were reluctant to revise and thought doing your favourite activity – reading – would get you off the hook.”
She also credits his aunt’s five-point test-taking strategy and Gigi’s “stern and steely resolve” for keeping him aligned with his goals.
“For the major category of the exam, you scored at the highest level amongst all children nationwide. You hit the maximum. There was no better grade to achieve,” Gordon shared.
A conversation over dinner in 2022 had laid the foundation. “In case you have forgotten, here’s a summary of the advice we gave you – perform at your very best, leave nothing unfinished that would prevent you from scoring the highest grade,” she reminded him. “Your mental recall and commitment were solid. You were humble as you collected trophies at graduation for top honours in nearly all the categories of the exams.”
She also smiled at memories of French lessons he once resisted. “A good friend told me to keep pushing because you are logging the information; he will realise the utility later,” she recalled. “Perhaps she was right.”
Gordon is not just a proud parent. She is a mother deeply aware of how life’s challenges can either derail or strengthen a child’s future. “Your all-round excellent performance at PEP is a good foundation on which you can build a great academic career,” she said. “Let the results inform your work and be your guide.”
“The struggles will come,” she continued, “but you have shown courage, strength, and that you can perform successfully even in the worst of times.”
And with a final word of encouragement for Cole – and for any student who has pushed through difficulty – she offers a message filled with love, hope and gratitude:
“As you honour your abilities and put your intellect to good use in the next phase, I encourage you to maintain humility and acknowledge the value and input of your community in shaping your success. I love you. Mom.”