Only If by Corey

Only If by Corey - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

My favorite song of all time is a song titled “Only If” by Steve Lacy. The song is a reflection on his life and his ability to come to terms with his choices and actions. The opening and ending line of “Only If” is, “If I could travel through time, I think I would tell myself from the past, you’ll be fine.” This is the exact piece of advice I'd tell my younger self.
I think with how much information is being thrown at us constantly through the internet, it's easy to get wrapped up in what we think we should be doing or what other people tell us we should be doing. Anxiety and depression rates are rising in the younger generations, and young people are struggling to figure out what to do later in their lives.
I try my best not to get sucked up into the dangerous cycle that is self comparison to unattainable standards to maintain my mental stablility and the mantra that helps the most is “Youll be fine”. No matter what actions I take, I've learned not to sweat the small stuff and stress myself out about the little details that make up everyday life. As long as I try my best and do what feels right, theres nothing more for me to do.
This mindset allows me to make more confident decisions and be a little less stressed than my peers, who often tell me how relaxed I am. The only thing I have to say when asked for advice is to let them know, you'll be fine.