ˈæftɚ ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ æz ɐ lˈɔɪɚ fɹʌmðə jˈuːnɪvɚsˌɪdæd dˈɛl ɐtlˈæntɪkˌoʊ ɪn bˌæɹɐŋkwˈɪlə, sˈɜːpə wɛnt bˈæk tə hɪz nˈeɪɾɪv sˈæntændɚ dᵻpˈɑːɹtmənt ænd bɪkˌeɪm ɐ dʒˈʌdʒ fɚðə tˈaʊn ʌv tˈoʊnə.
After graduating as a lawyer from the Universidad del Atlántico in Barranquilla, Serpa went back to his native Santander Department and became a judge for the town of Tona.