MERIDEN — In middle school, Jamie Erdman didn’t realize how smart she was, even though she received straight A’s.

But her older sister, Trisha, recognized her talent, telling her that someday she could be class valedictorian.

Jamie realized she had a chance to be tops in the class when she began attending Maloney High School. It inspired her to work even harder, and last month she was told she is Maloney’s class of 2012 valedictorian.

“It was something I was hoping I’d get,” Erdman said. “It was my goal.”

In the fall, Erdman will attend the University of Connecticut, majoring in psychology and pre-law.

Over the past four years Erdman said, she was always studying for a test or quiz or working on homework. She said weekends are typically a time to catch up on sleep, visit friends and practice softball.

Softball has been a part of Erdman’s life since she was 5. She played on recreation teams, travel teams and eventually Maloney’s team.

This year Maloney’s softball team went all the way to the state semifinals.

“We were hoping to go to the finals,” Erdman said. “It was a great season, I can’t complain.”

In the springtime, Erdman dedicates her time to softball and school, but in the fall her time is split between volleyball and academics. She was captain of the volleyball team this year and credits Trisha, a 2010 Maloney graduate, for sparking her interest in sports.

Finding a balance between athletics and school is tough. During volleyball season, Jamie Erdman said, she is like a robot — practice, eat, study and sleep.

“It’s really crazy,” she said. “I look forward to the weekends.”

Erdman does set limits.

“When it gets to be midnight, I just go to bed,” she said.

Now that sports are done and her academics nearly completed, she has more time to relax.

Erin Lyons-Barton, a math teacher at Maloney, had Erdman in her Advanced Placement statistics class this year. This was the first time she had Erdman as a student.

“She was a little shy at first, but you can tell she was a hard worker,” Lyons-Barton said. “She always got her homework and assignments done.”

Lyons-Barton said Erdman’s work stood out in her college-level course.

“It’s a college course in a high school setting,” she said. “It’s definitely challenging, and she managed it.”

Throughout the school year, Lyons-Barton said, she started to see Erdman come out of her shell and was impressed with her ability to balance school and sports.

For underclassmen looking to do well, Erdman’s advice is to not slack off.

“I’ve been the kind of person who just does their work and does well on tests,” she said. “You have to be motivated to do work.”

Erdman said her motivation comes from role models such as her parents and sister. When Erdman procrastinates with her studies, her parents keep her focused.

“They always check in with me and see how I’m doing,” she said.

Trisha Erdman ranked fifth in her senior class. Seeing her sister succeed gave Jamie motivation and inspiration.

“If she can do it, so I can,” Erdman said. Her sister attends Springfield University in Massachusetts, were she is studying to become a physician’s assistant.

While Jamie Erdman tends to stay away from science, she is excited to study psychology.

“I’m interested in seeing how people work,” she said.

Erdman said she wasn’t looking for big schools and applied to smaller colleges such as Fordham University, Marist College and Roger Williams University. UConn’s nice campus and affordable tuition won her over. She hopes to get involved with many clubs and activities.

“She’s like the prototype student,” said history teacher Kevin Staton. “She’s extremely bright and incredibly humble.”

Staton, who had Erdman in his AP history course as well as sociology, said she completed her history course with a presentation, developing a “Jeopardy”-type game based on what was learned in class. Staton said the students loved it.

kprimicerio@record-journal.com

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