Enjoying the Best of Two Worlds : At 17, Miriam Parrish has managed to land a role on a daytime soap and be named her school’s valedictorian.

It’s 7:30 a.m., and Miriam Parrish is already at the NBC Studios lot, getting “blocking” from her director for the day’s shoot on the “Days of Our Lives” set. Next, she’s having her makeup done, then her hair, followed by lunch and finally the actual shoot, all the while studying her script and cramming for her finals: certainly more than your average 17-year-old can handle.

But Miriam kept up this frenzied pace until December. And despite her demanding yet blossoming acting career, she managed to not only graduate from high school a semester ahead of schedule, but is valedictorian of the San Fernando Valley Professional School.

“My parents called me today--for the tenth time--and said, ‘Congratulations on being valedictorian!’ ” said Miriam, recalling how supportive her parents have been in both her career and education.

On “Days,” Miriam plays Jamie Caldwell, whom she describes as “your typical 16-year-old teen-ager.” Initially brought on as a recurring character, Jamie has become a regular on the show since Miriam signed a contract last December.

“Recently, on the show, I had a story line where my father was sexually abusing me. So that was nice and juicy,” she said.

Miriam says she loves working with the “Days” cast and enjoys being involved in the NBC-TV soap opera, which airs at noon Mondays through Fridays. “It’s steady, constant work, and a great job all around.”

She has also been on “Roseanne” and “Step by Step,” as well as in a Los Angeles theatrical production called “Spying,” which starred Meredith Baxter.

Although Miriam will be graduating on Wednesday, she actually received her diploma in December. She decided to finish her high school education early in order to be “treated as an adult rather than a minor so that I can work longer hours.”

The law states that a minor can only work 10 hours a day, three of which must be designated toward school and one to lunch. “The directors have to work school into what you’re doing on the set, but they do have this moneymaking business called acting going on, so sometimes it’s difficult.”

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Marjory van Valkenburg, the administrator of Valley Professional, said she is especially proud of Miriam, not only for excelling in her studies, but also for keeping a firm head on her shoulders about the acting business. “She suffers from no delusions of grandeur,” said Van Valkenburg.

Valley Professional is a private elementary and secondary school in North Hollywood designed to allow young people in show business to continue their education, but according to their own schedule, rather than the usual public school hours.

“I transferred out of Grant High School,” Miriam explained, “because it’s too hard for the public system to accommodate my schedule. And that’s not their job anyway.”

Van Valkenburg said the school’s current enrollment is 165 students, from first through 12th grade. Classes are held on campus, and are coordinated with the tutors on the studio sets.

“There’s a lot of independent study and homework on the set,” said Van Valkenburg. Valley Professional is one of only two schools in the area that is specifically for industry kids. “Every time I mention that school, someone has gone there for a short period, is going there, knows someone who’s gone there. . . . It’s very well-known,” Miriam said.

Now that she’s a full-time working woman, Miriam has her own apartment in Burbank near NBC Studios. Having moved four years ago from her home state, Florida, to pursue her acting career, Miriam had been living with her cousin in Sherman Oaks. But since receiving her diploma and getting shook up by the Northridge quake, she found it was time to find a home of her own.

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Miriam has plans for college. In the fall, she’ll be taking night classes at Valley College in Van Nuys while taping the soap during the day.

“I’m thrilled that she’s decided to continue her education,” Van Valkenburg said. Miriam said she plans to study English, communications or journalism for a couple of years at Valley College, then transfer to either UCLA or USC.

“I know I need to go to college to have something to fall back on,” Miriam conceded, fully aware of the lottery-like nature of her business. “But I know this business is meant for me.”