FSU Trailblazer: Phil Scarpa

By Sarah Warren on December 5, 2016

 

Allow me to introduce you to one of the must vivacious and quirky men at FSU. Phil Scarpa embodies good humor as a leader in FSU’s Swing Dancing Club, where he teaches beginner lessons, DJs, and freestyles like nobody’s business. I met Phil during my first time attending swing, where he revived my love of the dance and facilitated a warm and comfortable environment. I hope you enjoy getting to know him as much as I have and plan to come to Swing next semester!

What is your hometown?

PS: Cocoa Beach, Florida.

What was it like growing up there?

PS: It’s a relatively small town filled with a lot of surfers, fishers, old people, and tourists. But the friends and family I had there and continue to have I have never forgotten.

What’s your major?

PS: Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry.

 What year of school are you in?

PS: Junior year or Third year.

Why did you pick your major?

PS: Science for the most part is what I’m interested in and is very practical in the world today, especially if you are looking for a career in health care or the medical field.

 What is your favorite thing about FSU?

PS: The wonderful campus, the feel when walking around and seeing everything, and all the people and friends that I have made while living and going here.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

PS: I like to spend time playing video games, swing dancing, watching movies with friends, and just spending time with my friends in general.

Image via Phil Scarpa

How would you describe yourself?

PS: I would describe myself as a situational extrovert, personality wise, I see myself as some you could go up to and find yourself being comfortable around and having a good laugh or two along the way. As well as knowing that this person means well and cares a lot about his friends and others.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

PS: I see myself being done with school, maybe in a stable lab researching or having patients in my office. Maybe even living up north and having a wife, if I’m lucky.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment during your time at FSU?

PS: I haven’t really accomplished anything amazing yet academic wise. But I can say that meeting and finding the swing dance club here at FSU and a whole lot of friends and personal growth with myself has been accomplished and I’m very proud of that.

If you could go back and change something in your time at FSU, would you? If so, what would you change?

PS: I would probably change the amount of studying I did and incorporate more into my time before now. I would also would have paid more attention to what I said to certain people and would have put less effort and time into “friends” that I wouldn’t truly be happy with.

What made you begin swing dancing?

PS: I had already been searching for a type of club that was similar to drama club I did back in high school and while I was walking in Kellum, I saw a poster for swing dance lessons in HMU and thought it would be fun to try. I took some friends with me and we went to the beginner lesson, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and how friendly and energetic everyone one, my friends weren’t really into as much as I was. So I keep coming back after and here I am now, one of the most active members and elders of the club.

Image via Phil Scarpa

Do you have any advice for people who want to begin dancing, but are nervous?

PS: All I would say is that, life is full of risks and trying new things that may scare us. But if you do try and don’t like it, you can say through experience why you don’t like it and don’t have to do anymore. But on the other chance you try and love every single aspect of it, you just found not only a great outlet for dancing, but also a wonderful club/family to join and a group of friends that will last a lifetime.

 If you could be involved in any other major/extracurricular programs at FSU, regardless of qualifications or skill level, what would you choose?

PS: I would have love to be able to sing or do musicals, concerts, with some science on the side as my major, so basically a music major. But I think I wouldn’t have picked or decided on a different club then swing dance, it’s just that fun and important to me.

 Is there anything you would like to add that I might not have thought to ask you?

PS: Only one thing: throughout college and being here learning in my major and learning how to swing dance in the swing dance club at FSU, I have learned a lot about myself and grown a lot as a person. Be able to try new things and make new friends and be confident in everything you do. Don’t regret anything.

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