by Nicholas Cortez

St. John Bosco High School welcomes Mr. Scott Bargisen to the English Department, a dedicated educator who also happens to be a professional bodybuilder. 

Q. Why did you choose to become a teacher?

A. I chose to become a teacher because of the growth I get to see in my students’ communication over the course of a school year, and nothing brings me more joy than hearing back from past students and listening to their successes.

Q. Where did you teach coming to St. John Bosco?

A. I taught at Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, NJ. I taught eleventh grade British Literature, coached the powerlifting club and coached the shotput and discus throwers there.

Q. What is the difference between teaching at Don Bosco Preparatory High School and St. John Bosco High School?

A. The major differences between SJB and DBP are the use of technology in classrooms and the amount of time dedicated to student support or fun. DBP did not have Academic Support periods, block scheduling or late starts for school, but the school days moved more quickly with their scheduling. Students also purchase iPads through the school once they enroll, so all students have access to technology.

Q. What subject do you teach now?

A. I currently teach four periods of junior American Literature and Composition and one period of sophomore World Literature and Composition.

Q. What brought you to Bosco?

A. Sometimes, God gives people curveballs we can avoid or lean into. The opportunity to move to California and start a new life for myself arose, and I decided to lean into the curveball. I loved my time at Don Bosco Prep, and I miss my family back home, but living out here and continuing my career as a Salesian Educator at St. John Bosco has been an incredible start to this new chapter.

Q. Before becoming a teacher, what college did you attend?

A. I attended Misericordia University; I majored in English with secondary education certification and played football for one season.

Q. What got you into teaching?

A. I was raised around great educators like my mother and my grandparents.

Q. What other hobbies do you have?

A. I dabble in musical performance. I sing, play a few instruments, cook, solve puzzles, watch anime and do poetry. I professionally participate in prose writing and strength sports.

Q. Is it true that you are a professional bodybuilder?

A. I am; I am a professional classic physique competitor for the Organization of Competitive Bodybuilders (OCB), the Professional National Bodybuilders Association (PNBA) and Mr. America. All of the organizations I compete with test for Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs).

Q. Do you go to the gym or do you have an at home gym?

A. I have a home gym, which I prefer to use, but in-season I go to 24 Hour Fitness because of the variety of machines they have.

Q. What got you into working out?

A. I got into barbell-strength sports when I was 13 and competed in my first strongman competition, and at 22, I entered my first bodybuilding competition.

Q. What are some safe supplements or protein powders you would recommend to gain muscle?

A. “Safe supplements” is a tough question. For most healthy adults 18 or older, creatine monohydrate and multivitamins are the only supplements I would recommend. Eating good food, drinking enough water and getting enough sleep are far more important than any supplement on the market.

Q. How passionate are you about working out?

A. I am passionate about health and fitness, but bodybuilding is more of a practice of discipline than passion. 

Q. How many competitions have you won/attended?

A. I have competed at nine bodybuilding competitions so far, and will be competing in my tenth on October 7th at the Mr. America.

Q. How much do you lift?

A. I lift enough; when I competed in powerlifting last summer, I squatted 491, benched 343 and deadlifted 543 at the same meet. My gym lifts are quite a bit better now.

Q. If someone wanted to gain or lose weight what do you recommend?

A. Food, water and sleep are always the most important aspects of a person’s health and fitness.

Q. What is your favorite sport to watch or participate in?

A. My favorite sport to participate in is strongman, but my favorite sport to watch is mixed martial arts (MMA).

Q. What is your favorite gym clothing brand?

A. My favorite gym clothing brand is Physique Apparel because it fits well and is cheap. Most of the “gym brands” nowadays are just doing what the big companies did in the 90s.

Q. Would you ever like to be a gym influencer if so why?

A. I am on my way to having a better social media platform with which to educate, but I don’t know if I will ever be at the level of “influencer.” Also, the term “influencer” leaves a sour taste for me.

Q. If someone needs motivation to go to the gym what advice would you give them?

A. The best advice I can give is to walk into the gym and do one rep of something. Then the next day, do two reps of something. After a while, that person will be inclined to do more than what is prescribed and do a real workout. The biggest mistake I see is people want to make massive life changes too quickly, and their old habits rebound powerfully. The best way to make life changes and stick with them is to start small and specific.

Q. What advice would you give to someone who wants to get involved in bodybuilding?

A. I do not recommend anyone getting into bodybuilding, especially so young. Let your body develop naturally and build some good, clean muscle before deciding on a sport. Also, stay away from steroids and other dangerous PEDs.