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Endless effort
A hard worker is defined as someone who is industrious and diligent in carrying out tasks or duties. Smith-Cotton senior Serge Zayats meets these qualifications.
Being a high school student is not always an easy task. For Zayats, finding time to balance school, soccer and work has played a huge role in shaping him into the person he is today. Often, he would go to school, leave for work, and come right back in time for practice - which can take its toll.
Zayats said he has been in the construction business for nearly his whole life. When he was around 13, he began working on major projects with his older brother. Since then, he has continued working for Zayats Construction, a business owned by his brother, Eugene Zayats. For many people, having a responsibility like this from such a young age seems like a big deal.
“I think it's just how I was raised,” Zayats said. “Work is a big part of our family, and for the most part I enjoy it.”
However, finding time for a job, school work, and soccer practice is not always easy. Zayats said that it is sometimes challenging to get his homework done, especially English Composition papers, since he works such late hours.
“Time made for school work is never enjoyed, but it is made because personal success in all aspects of my life is important to me,” he said.
Zayats has played soccer for S-C throughout all four years of high school. Ethan Weller, health teacher and boys soccer coach, did not hesitate when asked to vouch for the hard work shown by Zayats.
“His work ethic was a big part of our success this season,” Weller said. “A lot of students often choose to go work and stop playing sports, but Serge committed to balancing both.”
Trenton Willis, another senior on the team, said he admires Zayats’ character. After meeting in junior high band, the two have been friends ever since. Willis said Zayats always works hard, which greatly contributed to their wins.
“He never took breaks,” Willis said.
Weller added that Zayats’ willingness to commit himself to all of these activities tells a lot about his character and the person that he is. Fortunately for Zayats, he had great parents who demonstrated the value of working hard. As immigrants, moving to the United States with six children was a challenge. Zayats’ parents had to persevere to achieve the American dream.
“It taught me to work hard and get things done on your own,” he said, adding that the experience showed him to never rely too much on others.
When his mother passed away in 2011, Zayats was forced to become more independent than ever. Mothers are almost always the backbone of every family, and when taken away, it feels as if the foundation has crumbled.
“I had to do more chores and stuff,” he said. “The normal things a mom would do is now a responsibility that falls on others in the family.”
Zayats said that the loss of his mother resulted in his family becoming closer than ever, because it was time when they needed each other most.
“It really taught me the value of family,” he said.
Graduating from high school a semester early, Zayats plans on working towards his goal of becoming an electrical lineman. He said that he will be attending a school in Florida in May or September if things work out the way he is hoping. According to Zayats, the proper education to become an electrical lineman takes about 15 weeks to receive an apprentice degree. After this, he will be doing a lot of hands-on work to gain experience.
Wherever Zayats ends up, Weller is confident that he will be successful. Through years of practices and games, Weller has come to know him as not only a player, but also as a person.
“He is always doing the right things on and off the field, and it makes coaching much easier and much more fun,” Weller said. “My best advice to Serge would be don't change what or who you are. You are a tremendous person and I see your qualities as a person leading to tremendous success in the future.”