Santo Pellettiere: Into My Own
Growing up, I never realized that eventually one day I’d have to step into the next stage of my life. I thought I’d just keep advancing grade after grade; it never hit me that there’d be an end to such movement. I let it pass me by…and here in college it started happening too. I spent my first two years of college wishing I hadn’t let my high school days escape my grip, all the while letting the current ones do the same. I just wanted to be a kid for a little longer.
The fallacy ended when I realized I had to step into my own shoes one way or another—by getting a job. The summer after my sophomore year in college, I landed my dream internship at a local accounting firm. I was extremely nervous to even call to ask for such an opportunity, so much so that I’d sit staring at my phone for hours just trying to build up the courage to hit dial. I’d write a script in front of me for what to say, only to speed read through it when the receptionist would pick up. I sounded like I had just finished a marathon when I spoke because of how out of breath I was. Despite my nerves, I made sure my enthusiasm, preparation, and genuine interest shined through when it mattered most, which ultimately earned me the opportunity.
I started my internship feeling extremely out-of-place because mentally I was just a high school student who wasn’t ready to bear responsibilities. I knew I had to give the internship everything I had to prove to myself that I was worthy of receiving the honor. When I began working, I was reserved as I wanted to display the professional aspect of myself by working diligently. I soon let my personality come out and started to understand the dynamic my accounting firm operated on. My accounting firm operates as a tight-knit, family-oriented team. While initially this might sound problematic because small conflicts could have a bigger ricochet, I soon learned the human connection removed the scariest aspect of the job for me: growing up.
The Internship Site, Dooley & Company
I thought that by starting a job I would have to erase part of myself and only commit to the work. Yet, the connections I bridged while doing so allowed that erasure to refill. What I was longing for all this time wasn’t high school itself but the personal connection it brought. Discovering this at my internship opened up my eyes to what I had not seen before. I attended my first happy hour with all the employees and felt like I was at home. I was able to look within and acknowledge the value I provided as a member of the team. I never should have felt like I didn’t belong somewhere I earned a spot being. The team saw something within me when they brought me on, why couldn’t I?
Throughout my internship, these people became not like family, but family. Whenever I’d need help, I’d yell around the corner for my favorite colleague Jeff, only for him to whiz on in and be my saving grace. He’d help me prepare tax returns, quantify what I needed to scan into the system, or bail me out from an upset client. I never experienced a sink-or-swim moment, as I knew my support network was always at the ready. Not only had I felt valued during my time spent there, but my mindset was critically remolded, setting me up for future success. This was done through teaching moments and being given ample knowledge to complete the task at hand. This further allowed me to expand my knowledge base into more content once I was ready. I was afraid of the idea of the real world, but once I reached it, it wasn’t so bad after all.
Coming back to Lander post-internship, I applied what I had gathered. While the practical knowledge of the field was invaluable, the emotional intelligence the team had helped me build will serve me in every aspect of my life. Previously, I had only had “school friends.” Yet, once returning from my internship, I had learned how to strengthen the connections all around me. I write this anecdote as the person closest to my absolute core sits beside me, my best friend Oscar. While he and I have a story of our own, the bonding we experienced the semester after my internship has solidified his place in my lifetime.
Santo's Closest Companion, Oscar
It's okay to let life progress, because what choice do we have? It’s through experiences like my internship that bridged the gap to what it’s all about. Without connection, nothing means anything. I could’ve gone day in and day out focusing solely on the task at hand. However, pausing to connect with my coworkers on a personal level allowed me to be interwoven into their web. These instances made me more comfortable with not only my own social skills, but also removing the unnecessary fear out of it. While yes, these people hold authority over me, I know if any situation were to arise, I’d be comfortable enough to handle it.
Extending into my personal life, I now look at the girl in front of me who just said “what,” in response to me smiling at her and all the beautiful people around her, who have become such an important facet of my life. I no longer long for what has been, because what is here I wouldn’t trade anything for.
The Girl Who Said "What," Bethany
Santo Pellettiere is a junior accounting emphasis who completed one of many internships at Dooley & Company, LLC. He grew up in rural upstate New York until moving to Lexington, South Carolina, in 2018. Upon graduation in Spring of 2026, he plans to pursue a career in accounting where the skies are the limit.