New Jersey Malls Making a Comeback
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 25: Customers visit the American Mall dream mall during Black Friday on November 25, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is traditionally regarded as the start of the holiday shopping season, with shoppers flocking to stores and online for bargains, but with consumer confidence down, retailers are bracing for a considerably slower Black Friday.
Ah, the Woodbridge Center Mall – the epicenter of our teenage adventures and memories! Back in the day, my Mom would drive me and my friends off on a fun mall shopping spree, even if it were just window shopping.
Remember when holiday shopping meant hitting up the Macy’s make-up counter? Those sparkly eyeshadows and bold lipsticks called our names louder than any online ad. We enjoyed getting make overs at the make-up counter. My friends and I would always make some sort of purchase at the Estee Lauder counter so we would get a really cool free gift!
Then, there was the Ohrbach’s sale rack where we would get a thrill of finding the perfect blazer with puffy shoulders at a steal! We strutted our sale finds like fashionistas on a budget.
I am so happy to hear that today, Gen Z is rewriting the mall experience. According to the Los Angeles Times, malls are making a comeback thanks to those aged 16 to 26. Even though this age group grew up in the age of instant everything, Gen Z is more impressed with what my generation considered real shopping. The real in-person shopping experience is more gratifying to them than online clicks by a slim margin – 97% to 95%. Who would’ve thought?
Stephanie Tully is the USC professor who spilled the beans on this phenomenon. Gen Z’s craving for instant digital goodies spills over into the physical realm. They want it now, whether it’s a download or a fabulous outfit. Kristin Grove from JLL says Gen Z isn’t just shopping, they are building communities. They are bridging the gap between Snapchat stories and real-life retail therapy.
I believe this age group needs the mall madness experience. This age group seems to be growing up glued to screens making Gen Zer’s a bit lonely. I feel going to the mall helps them trade likes for laughs, filters for fitting rooms, and DMs for face-to-face conversations.
So, here’s to Gen Z bringing back the glory days. Next time you’re at the Woodbridge Center Mall remember, you’re not just shopping you’re part of a retail revolution! Save the malls. #MallMania #GenZStyle
SAT Test Going Fully Digital, Getting Shorter in 2024
The bane of many high school students’ existence, the SAT test, will be moving to an all digital format starting in 2024, the College Board said in a release Tuesday.
The move comes after a trial run for the digital test experience in November of 2021. That run, prompted — of course — by the COVID-19 pandemic, proved to be wildly successful. Of the students who took the trial digital test, 80 percent said they thought it was less stressful. And even more pronounced, 100 percent of educators said they had a positive experience with the new SAT test in digital form. The tests will still be administered on site for most schools, but students will be allowed to use their own devices, or can use devices provided by the schools.
“The digital SAT will be easier to take, easier to give, and more relevant,” said Priscilla Rodriguez, vice president of College Readiness Assessments at College Board. “We’re not simply putting the current SAT on a digital platform—we’re taking full advantage of what delivering an assessment digitally makes possible. With input from educators and students, we are adapting to ensure we continue to meet their evolving needs.
The SAT test is commonly used as a metric for college acceptance for many students. That’s been useful for many students, but has drawn the ire of many in the education community, as some students are shown to not test well given the format, regardless of educational ability.
“In a largely test-optional world, the SAT is a lower-stakes test in college admissions. Submitting a score is optional for every type of college, and we want the SAT to be the best possible option for students. The SAT allows every student—regardless of where they go to high school—to be seen and to access opportunities that will shape their lives and careers,” Rodriguez said. “I am one of those students. I’m a first-generation American, the child of immigrants who came to the U.S. with limited financial resources, and I know how the SAT Suite of Assessments opened doors to colleges, scholarships, and educational opportunities that I otherwise never would have known about or had access to. We want to keep those same doors of opportunity open for all students.”
Along with the transition to the digital form, the SAT will have a number of other changes that are designed to help students and educators:
Meet Maryann, who has been chasing magic since the early 90s. Back then, she hosted a love and dedication show at nights on Magic. Talk about romantic vibes! Since then, she traded her evening slot for mornings. When she’s not talking to you on the air, she’s living the glamorous life of a chicken, duck, pigeon, and German Short-Haired Pointer mom. Since Joel can never follow what she says, there is an entire feature called " What are you Talking About" at 9:10. Running is her secret to staying out of trouble – or at least staying ahead of the extra pounds. She has a husband named Matt, and a son named Zack, who she says makes her world a little adventure.
