- Dorm life really isn’t that bad. Sure it has its cons, but overall living in dorms is pretty nice. What could be better than living in a huge building with a ton of people your age? You will have a whole floor of people to get to know. And who knows? Maybe your best friend actually lives two doors down the hall!
- Studying in college is way different than studying in high school. You absolutely have to study in college. I’m sure in high school there were classes you could sleep through and still get an A. That is not the case in college. You have to work hard for that 4.0; it isn’t just handed to you.
- Everyone is in the same boat. The first weeks of college are nerve-racking for everyone. Everyone is away from home and in a new environment. Don’t be afraid to talk to the kid sitting next to you in math class! A little act of kindness can go a long way and can make transitioning into college easier for everyone!
- Take advantage of all of the free stuff. Get some of that tuition money back, my friend! If there is free pizza, you go get that free pizza. A lot of free giveaways are handed out at events on campus, so try and go to as many as you can! And who doesn’t love a free shirt or two?
- “I’ll do it later." No you won’t. Make a habit of doing an assignment as soon as you get it. That way, when you have a million things due in the same week, you’ve already taken care of some of them, and it won’t be so stressful looking at all of the deadlines you have to make.
- Making quality friends takes time. Good friends don’t just appear out of nowhere, but once you find them, they will be keepers. A good way to find friends with similar interests is by joining clubs you are interested in and doing what you love on campus. You may also make great friends with people in your major! I found my best friend on “Meet Your Major Day” during orientation week, and we have been inseparable ever since.
- Get some sleep. Staying up super late during the week is alright to do every once in awhile, but not every night. Your brain needs a good amount of sleep to be able to function at full potential. But on Friday and Saturday nights, you stay up as long as your heart desires!
- Get involved in campus activities, trust me. Clubs are some of the best resources on any campus! They are a great way to meet people, to help the community and to focus on something other than school every now and then! Clubs and campus activities are a great way to relax and to keep a healthy life balance!
- Do not be afraid to ask for help. College is challenging! But there are people that are willing to help you at every corner you turn! I am aware that in high school it was sort of embarrassing to ask for help, but in college that is not the case. You are here to get that degree.
- Netflix is OK in moderation. Netflix is a beautiful thing, I know. Just make sure that you are doing your work before you watch another seven episodes of "The Blacklist."
- Do laundry at weird hours. Trust me on this one, the laundry rooms can get super packed at times. I try and do my laundry when most people are at dinner or super early in the morning on a Saturday or Sunday.
- One bad test grade is not the end of the world. Bad grades are like Brussels sprouts — no one likes them. While it sucks having your grade lowered, bad grades do help you understand what you need to work on for next time and how you can improve! But don’t let one bad grade turn into multiple ones. That is when you get yourself into trouble.
- Time management is a major key. You will have so much more free time than you did in high school because you aren’t forced to sit through classes for eight straight hours a day. Learning how to manage your time will not only help you accomplish the work that has to get done, but it will also allow you to make the most out of the actual free time you have throughout your day.
- It alright to miss your family. Family is super important, and for a lot of people, myself included, going off to college is the first time students are really away from their families. They are your family; they love you! Try and call them every once in awhile!
- Don’t be afraid to switch your major. For some reason, a lot of people are under the impression that it is frowned upon to change your major. You are at college to get an education, and if you don’t like the major you initially chose, change it. When I applied to college, I was on the fence between two majors. During my first semester, I realized the one I had picked was not for me, so I switched. That was hands down the best decision I have ever made.
- Be open-minded. One of the reasons college is so great is because everyone comes from different walks of life. Respect the way that people are, and embrace all of the different cultures around you! Try new things every day, and meet as many new people as you can!
- You’re going to be poor. You really don’t need that super expensive Michael Kors bag or that designer top. College is expensive, and no one likes student loans, but you can always get a job on campus or save that money you got during the holiday season!
- You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate. You may get along with your roommate, or you may not. If you do get along with them, that’s great! But if you don’t, there are plenty of places for you to go to separate yourself from them. Try studying in the library or hanging out in another friend’s room during your free time.
- You can still have fun without going to parties. Parties are great, sure, but if they aren’t your scene, there are so many other ways to have fun at college! There will always be people on your floor to hang out with and activities to do on campus!
- Be yourself and have fun. College is such an amazing experience so make the best out of it! Be yourself, try new things, meet new people, work hard and last but not least, have fun!
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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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