- It’s better to have a few great friends than many bad friends. High school was always about who had the most friends, not who had true friends. Luckily, this changes post-graduation, and quality overtakes quantity.
- How to pick my battles. Although there are times when I know I am right, I’ve learned when it’s not worth it to start a fight. Most of the time it’s better to just put down the shovel and walk away.
- Your metabolism really does catch up with you. My days of living off pizza and mac and cheese have started to catch up with me. I never thought I would see the day where my diet had green in it, but unfortunately, the time has come.
- Nothing good will come from comparing yourself to others. There is no point in wasting your energy comparing yourself to others. Rather, you should focus on becoming your best self and only compare your new and improved self to who you used to be.
- Don’t lower your standards, or you will be disappointed. Whether it is personal standards regarding grades or whom you date, lowering yourself will bring nothing but disappointment. Seize what you know you deserve, even if it takes a little more effort.
- Don’t hold your expectations unrealistically high, or you will be disappointed. On the other hand, if you hold your standards and expectations too high, you set yourself up for let-down. Sure, some things can work out in your favor, but if you were to, say, set your heart on marrying an NFL player or a supermodel, you will most likely be left disappointed.
- Live in the moment. Being a girl, we love to think of the way things “could be” a few years down the road. We get caught up in the idea of something and fail to see the reality of it. Doing this can easily cloud our judgment, causing bad decisions to be made.
- Like the J. Giels Band said, love stinks. Sure relationships can be great, but there is no such thing as a perfect one. Even the best ones will have some complications.
- Surrounding yourself with positive people will have a positive impact on you. It makes sense doesn’t it? If you spend your time with happy and optimistic people, you will not only feel better around them, but you will also start to think more like them. Nothing bad can come from associating yourself with good people.
- Surrounding yourself with negative people won’t. The opposite of what happens when you surround yourself with positive people will happen when you surround yourself with those who are negative. Nothing good will come from it.
- Don’t post stupid things on social media. As great as the technology revolution is, it comes with potential consequences. Posting one stupid tweet or one inappropriate photo can change your entire future for the worst. Don’t be that person who gets screwed because of one seemingly irrelevant mistake.
- Time heals all wounds. No matter how much pain you are feeling, and no matter what caused it, time alone will heal you. Despite the fact that you might feel like all is lost at some points, you will get through them if you give yourself the time you need to move on.
- It’s true what they say about working out. Since what they said about your metabolism slowing down turned out to be true, I figured I would give exercise a try for the first time since high school sports. And guess what? It turns out that what they say happens with exercise is true, too. After getting into the habit of hitting the gym, I feel more energized and happy. Who knew that 30 minutes of sweating per day could have such a positive outcome?
- Hard work pays off. Whether it’s in the gym or in the library, if you are dedicated and work hard, rewards will come your way.
- You’re actually considered to be cool if you’re smart. Another great thing that changes after high school! It’s no longer “cool” to be the idiot jock that rides through high school by cheating on the quiet kid that sits next to him. In college and the work place, the smart ones get the most respect, as they rightfully should.
- Nothing good comes from over-thinking. Even if what you come up with turns out to be correct, you will be no more at ease than you would have been had you not wasted your time stressing out about it.
- Do things that will make your parents happy. There’s no better way to realize how much your parents do for you than leaving the nest. After all, you probably wouldn’t be where you are without them. Once we hit our twenties, the time we get to spend with our parents becomes limited. This is why it is so important to make the most of the time that we do get to spend with them, and repay them for all they have done for us.
- Timing is everything. As cliche as it sounds, everything happens for a reason. Sometimes things that could have been great at one point just wouldn't work a few months down the road. As disappointing as this can be, you just have to accept the fact that God has a plan, and go with the flow of things.
- Good things come from leaving your comfort zone. Nothing bad can come from doing something new. Whether it is choosing to study abroad or going to that intense work-out class you’re terrified of, doing something out of the ordinary can only make you grow, even if you end up hating it.
- Don't be afraid to ask for what you want. Don’t bottle up your desires. Asking will either get you what you want or open your eyes to what you deserve. No matter how scared you are, ask; it will only help you in the long run.
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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
StableDiffusion
The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
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