Unsung Hero: Family Ties Inspire Jordan Calderone

High school seniors usually have priorities that usually entail hanging out with friends, starring on sports teams and deciding which at university they plan on spending the next four years of their life.

While Collingswood’s Jordan Calderone has been spending her senior year doing all of those things, she takes a certain pride in just how close she remains with each member of her family, in spite of her busy schedule.

As the second-youngest of four children in her family, Calderone has spent her senior year living up to the name her two brothers before her made so memorable in Collingswood.

A.J. Calderone, a 2007 graduate, starred for the Panthers in both soccer and baseball during his time at the high school. Mike, who graduated in 2008, left his mark on Collingswood by leading the school’s marching band.

Calderone will leave Collingswood as a three-sport varsity athlete, with letters in field hockey, basketball and lacrosse, and she claims to have her brothers to thank for how far she’s come.

“My oldest brother is the one who motivated me to play sports,” said Calderone. “He’s always been a hard-working athlete. Whenever I would come home from school and complain about something, he’d always be the first one to tell me to stop complaining, and just do it.

“Mike was one of the best trumpet players at Collingswood. He’d always help me with my school work. He’s just really smart. There were always those little things with my homework that I just wouldn’t get and he’d always help me with it.”

Now, Calderone has an influence of her own to leave on somebody younger. Her sister, Jenn, has recently taken up lacrosse. The youngest in the family has found a passion in playing goalie, and Calderone hopes to help her in any way that she can.

“My little sister is my best friend,” said Calderone. “I just love hanging out with her and I’m really proud of her for wanting to play lacrosse. We each have our own little thing, our own niches, you know? Playing goalie can be hers.”

Calderone, who recently scored her milestone 50th lacrosse goal for the Panthers, says that she has no problem going into her backyard and taking some shots with her sister in the net. It’s unlikely that she’ll ever go easy on the sixth-grader, though.

“I love to compete,” said Calderone. “I think that’s really what drives me to play sports. I think my friends would tell you that the competition of things is really what I love about it.”

Her drive and competitive nature will play key roles in her future, as Calderone has enrolled in Salisbury University for the fall 2011 as a part of the school’s nursing program.

Unsure of whether she’ll play lacrosse for the reigning Division III national champions, she is certainly set in her ways when it comes to what she'll study.

“My mom is a nurse,” said Calderone. “I think there was just one morning when I was in middle school where I woke up and said to my dad, 'I’m going to be a nurse, too.'

“Helping people is a naturally good feeling. It’s a natural way to be happy. I’m only nervous about the workload, but other than that, I’m really excited for college.”