At 5 feet 6 inches tall, Jon Zajac doesn't look all that intimidating — that is, until he's throwing a 220-pound barbell above his head.

The Penn Manor High School graduate is all too familiar with the doubtful looks he receives at local gyms, as well as the shellshock many associate with his age and qualifications.

Certified in sports performance, weightlifting and personal training, the 21-year-old works with Penn Manor's football team as a strength training coach, and trains clients on the side.

And when he's not working or attending HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, he's preparing for Olympic-style weightlifting competitions around the country.

Olympic-style weightlifting utilizes two main techniques: the snatch and the clean and jerk. The snatch involves lifting the bar from the ground to straight above the head in one smooth motion. The clean and jerk requires lifting the bar to shoulder height and then straight above the head, in two motions.

But Zajac's height doesn't hold him back. On average, he performs the clean and jerk with 275 pounds on the bar.

"I think that's the coolest part," he said, with a smile. "I'll get up to 250, 275, 300 pounds and out of the corner of my eye, the guy next to me will watch, then put down his weights and leave.

"They don't understand how I'm half their size and twice as strong."

Family: Parents Bob and Charlotte Ney, Jon and Jackie Zajac; brothers Chas, Teddy and Hunter; sisters Emilee and Taylor; and a dog named Tuttie.

Hometown: Lititz.

Education: Penn Manor High School; HACC, exercise science; USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Certification; International Sports Science Association Certified Personal Trainer Certification.

When I was a child, I dreamed of being: A lawyer, because they were rich and didn't seem like they did much work, but then I found out they go to school half their life, so that changed pretty quickly by the time I got into middle school.

In high school, I was: Just trying to get out, but once that happened, I wished it took longer.

I began Olympic-style weightlifting when I was: 18 because the strength coach at Penn Manor at the time was watching me come in and lift and told me I should try it out. I was always in there and they would take me to the next level in my athletic ability ... I tried it out and became hooked.

Through coaching, I hope to: Eventually open my own sports performance facility. For the time being, I am setting up some different sports performance programs. One of them is at Cross Fit Collective on Manheim Pike and the other is at Empower Training on Willow Street Pike.

A typical day for me consists of: Lots and lots of eating then lifting by myself and preparing for nationals in Olympic-style weightlifting. I go to Penn Manor High School to coach different teams, and then after that I train different athletes in the area.

The hardest part of my job is: Scheduling clients.

My best time of day for working out is: In the late afternoon around 3 p.m. I am wide awake at that point. I don't mind lifting in the early morning, but I am at Penn Manor training the teams then, so it does not fit my schedule.

I am happiest when: I see my clients improving in their athletic ability, be it on the field or in the gym.

On my iPod, you'll find: Anything except classical music — as my mood changes, so does the music. I just haven't found a mood that fits classical music yet, and I really hope I don't.

My most embarrassing moment is: When I buzzed my hair and missed a big patch in the back of my head. I went to school the next day and everyone saw it.

My go-to snack after working out: Chocolate milk and strawberries — I don't know why, but it's delicious.

On the perfect summer evening, you can find me: Sitting outside, enjoying the weather with friends and family.

My future goals: To open my own sports performance training facility for athletes and to place top five in the next two years at nationals with weightlifting, then make a run at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

One thing I will never forget: Age means nothing. As long as a person is qualified and has experience, it does not matter what education they have or do not have. This is the toughest thing for people to open up to. I am young, but have way more experience then many trainers or coaches twice my age.

The best piece of advice I ever got was: Complacency breeds mediocrity. Never get complacent or you will just be mediocre.

Contact Sunday News staff writer Brittany Horn at bhorn@lnpnews.com.