When Carl Lyndon Barsolaso enrolled in the College of Business and Accountancy at Tarlac State University, he didn’t imagine he would one day become a senior accountant serving international clients. In fact, accounting wasn’t even part of his original plan. What changed everything were a few pivotal decisions—and the courage to pursue certifications long before graduation.
Carl’s turning point began in his second year of college, when he passed the TESDA NCIII in Bookkeeping. What started as a way to test his skills became the first step toward a career he never expected to love. By fourth year, while balancing on-the-job training and graduation requirements, he pushed himself further and took the NIAT Level 1 Certified Bookkeeper Certification. Passing the exam gave him something rare among fresh graduates: immediate credibility.
That certification opened a door he didn’t think would open so soon. During his first job interview, the employer didn’t ask him to come back for another round—they hired him on the spot. It was the confidence boost he needed at a time when many of his classmates were still figuring out their paths. For Carl, the NIAT credential wasn’t just a certificate; it was a shortcut to real-world opportunities.
From there, his journey moved quickly. He joined a rural bank that went on to be awarded Most Outstanding Branch with the Highest Income, giving him early exposure to high-performing financial environments. Later, he transitioned to the Local Government Unit of La Paz, where he earned recognition as Employee of the Year and passed the Civil Service Exam. Each move stacked new experiences on top of the old and proved that the right qualifications—paired with hard work—can accelerate a career in ways people rarely expect.
Behind these wins was a working student who faced constant pressure. Balancing OJT, exam preparation, and academic requirements wasn’t easy, and there were moments when he questioned whether he could keep up. What kept him going were the same friends who struggled alongside him and pushed each other through late nights and difficult subjects. That support system—and his own persistence—helped him take each hurdle as a step toward something bigger.
Today, Carl is a senior accountant working with international clients, specializing in Australian accounting—something he didn’t learn in school but mastered through company training and continuous learning. He credits that progression to a mixture of curiosity, discipline, and the decision to invest in industry-recognized certifications early in his journey.
For students and entry-level professionals, his story is a reminder that breakthrough opportunities don’t always come from having the perfect resume. Sometimes, they come from taking the first exam, the first training, or the first leap of faith—right when you feel the least ready.
Carl didn’t wait until he graduated to start building his career. He started when he was still learning, still unsure, still figuring things out. And that early start made all the difference.
