- You don’t have to go out every night. The first week of college was completely overwhelming. There were frat parties every night, and I thought that if I didn’t go out with my pledge class that I would be left behind while everyone else made their best friends for life. After the first week of hardly any sleep, I got really sick. I had to say “no” to going out, and surprisingly enough, the world kept turning. No one thought any less of me, and I had a blast watching Netflix in my bed. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to go to parties every night, because parties aren’t necessarily where you will find the girls you want to spend the next four years with. Resting is so important, especially at this time in your life when you are faced with so may new and exciting things. It’s ok to say “no” to going out.
- Reach out to people. Though it’s important to not feel pressure to go out every night, it is also important to continue to reach out to people and make an effort to make friends. Coffee dates, lunch between classes, and studying in the library are all really great ways to get to know someone one-on-one. It’s important to let others get to know you in a setting other than a loud party or bar. Friends won’t just fall into your lap — getting to know others has to be a conscious effort, because unlike high school, you aren’t stuck in a school building for seven hours with the same people. Make sure that you put yourself out there and choose to get to know others.
- School comes first. This is a big one. Freshman year is so fun because you are meeting so many new people and experiencing new things, and classes are generally pretty easy since most people have general education courses. But you have to focus. Go to class, study, and make sure you are talking to your teachers if you don’t understand something. I promise, you don’t want to be freaking out when finals roll around and you have to make over a 95 on the test for an A in the class. If you do your best during the semester, then you will be proud of your grades when finals are over, but it’s a pretty terrible feeling to know that you could have worked harder and done better.
- Call your parents. College has been so full of new experiences so far, most good and some hard things. My parents have been an anchor for me when everything around me has changed. Sometimes I just need to hear them say that they miss me and that they are proud of me. Don’t be afraid to be honest with your parents. If you are struggling, they will know exactly what to say to cheer you up because let’s face it, our parents know us pretty dang well. They want to hear from you, they want to know how you are. So call them!!
- Be productive. A busy person is a happy person. Though laying in bed watching Netflix for hours on end sounds great, it can promote laziness and apathy. If I feel lonely or sad, it’s usually following an extended amount of time spent in my dorm alone doing nothing. It’s so much easier to focus on the negative feelings you have when you are getting nothing done. An easy way to combat this is simply to get out of your dorm! Go workout, go grocery shopping, go to the library, go get your nails done, or go shopping. You feel more balanced when you are productive, which promotes happier thoughts and feelings.
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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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