Lifestyle
Page 12
The rise of
enmo
Granite Bay Gazette wFriday, March 6, 2020
If you really knew me, you would know...
Gazette illustration/DYLAN ROWE
Virtual payment app remains popular within teenage demographic BY ALI JUELL
ajuell.gazette@gmail.com
P
hones have everything these days. Recipes, full-length shows, the list goes on and on. They now have the opportunity to not only change cooking and entertainment as they’ve always been known but to also change how money is transferred. Many teenagers have forfeited physical payment methods for easy access on their phones with the use of apps like Venmo and Apple Pay. Venmo allows users to digitally transfer money to their friends or other contacts, while Apple Pay utilizes a physical credit or debit card’s information to make transactions at businesses. “Most of my friends use (Venmo) and I... forget my wallet (sometimes, so) it’s really helpful for when I need to pay them back,” said sophomore Jerimae Pielago. Digital payment has become a great tool for any situation that arises, whether it be a spontaneous trip to Chipotle or a split appetizer at Mikuni’s. “(I) use both Venmo and Apple Pay,” said Stephanie Samson, a student at Sierra College.”With Apple Pay I can use it at stores and (to get) food. (Using) Venmo I can pay my friends if we want to split something.”
Luckily, the increased use of digital payment by teenagers is even positive for local business owners. “(Digital payment is) really convenient and saves time and paper,” said Kat Tianpathong, whose parents own a restaurant in the Roseville area. “It’s good (for when) we’re busy.” Despite the overall positive reception, both apps have left something to be desired for some users. “Venmo takes away money if you want to do an instant transaction,” said junior Gabriel Weber, referring to the 1% fee users incur when choosing to have their transfer completed within 30 minutes. “It (can be) annoying.” In addition, many businesses have not yet begun to accept ApplePay, leaving some potential customers with no other ways to pay. “Whenever stores don’t take ApplePay I get anxious,” Pielago said. “(There are times when) the store or restaurant (I’m going to) doesn’t specify whether or not it takes (ApplePay), which can be stressful.” Even though both have a long way to go before they become common forms of payment for all customers, ApplePay and Venmo prove to be the latest successful change in how people exchange money At the end of the day, what is the key to the sudden popularity of Venmo and Apple Pay? “I think… it’s just a convenience thing,”Samson said. “(Also) it’s kind of fun to see what other people are (sending) each other (on Venmo). It’s like a new social media. It’s revolutionary.”
Battle of the sophomore APs Students discuss which social science class is more beneficial BY SOPHIE CRISCIONE
W
scriscione.gazette@gmail.
ith registration for next year’s classes recently completed, the question for most freshmen interested in Advanced Placement classes was whether they should take AP European History or AP Human Geography for their sophomore year history class. The transition into either one of these AP classes can be difficult for students who are not accustomed to the higher level content and new style of teaching. Senior Ellie Scholes took AP Human Geography her sophomore year and although it was her first AP class, she didn’t find the course to be too demanding or strenuous. “(AP Human Geography) was a big change, going from CP classes to AP classes, but based on the curriculum, I think it’s manageable and definitely not too difficult to learn for those interested,” Scholes said. Some students may have decided not to take the year long block of Honors English 10 and AP Euro, worried they won’t be prepared or perform well in a more rigorous course. Senior Kara Kleinbach disagrees, and believes any student interested and up for the challenge of AP can do well in the class. “The stereotype that AP Euro is too hard and only the smartest kids should take it is not true,” Kleinbach said. “Euro is a tough class because it’s everyone’s first AP class, but Mr. Valentine really helps you get engaged, understand everything, [and is] always willing to help you.” Most students seem to enjoy the alternative, AP Human Geo, but Scholes wishes she could have taken AP Euro as well, for its interesting history content. “I’m very happy that I chose AP Human Geography because it was my favorite class (at) Granite Bay High School, but I do wish I had taken AP Euro because I didn’t realize how much I loved history until I took AP US,” senior Ellie Scholes said.
Gazette photo /SOPHIE CRISCIONE
AP Euro teacher Michael Valentine agrees that Human Geo is an interesting class, but he does not think it gives students the history background they might need if they wish to continue into AP US History their junior year. “Mrs. Angelone does a great job teaching (AP Human Geography), and it’s an interesting course, but it is not a history course. It does not give you any history background, it is just that geography,” Valentine said. Juniors taking AP US History often find having taken AP Euro helpful. “If after Human Geo, you move onto AP US, you don’t have any history background and that can make AP US even harder,” Valentine said. Additionally, the format of the US History AP test is identical to that of the Euro exam, giving students who have taken AP Euro a year of extra preparation for the AP US test. “The format of the (AP) tests are exactly the same, so by them practicing when they’re sophomores, they’ve got it by junior year,” Valentine said. AP Euro students prepared for the DBQ all year long as sophomores, while the test format was completely new to Scholes and other students who had taken AP Human Geo. “I didn’t know how to write a DBQ going into the class and still didn’t feel confident at the AP test,” Scholes said. In the end, both AP Euro and AP Human Geo are intriguing courses that students should come into with the motivation and interest to learn. “I want students who want to be there, history is cool (and) even if you’ve never liked history before, I’ll get you,” Valentine said. AP Human Geography teacher Kathleen Angelone wants her students to put forth their best effort and respect others in her class. “I expect students that are willing to open up their minds and hearts to other cultures, be respectful of all people, (and) I expect students to try their best,” Angelone said. When making this tough decision, freshmen should remember to sign up for a class they want to take. “Consider what you’re most interested in, (and) don’t push yourself to take the higher level classes if you don’t want to,” Scholes said. Gazette photo /SOPHIE CRISCONE
ella rosenblatt “If you really knew me, you’d know that I have an outie belly button.”
carson hailey “If you really knew me, you’d know that I don’t like potato salad.”
mehar rangi “If you really knew me, you’d know that I like to do push-ups.”
garrett jeffrey “If you really knew me, you’d know that I like mountain biking.”
Compiled by: Heba Bounar
