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Why Have Indian-Americans Won the Last 10
National Spelling Bees?
Ananya Vinay, a 12-year-old from
Fresno​, became the 2017 Scripps
National Spelling Bee champ by
correctly spelling the word marocain
(it’s a type of dress fabric). Vinay is the
first solo champ since 2013 and, in
addition to her winning word,
successfully spelled cheiropompholyx,
durchkomponiert, and tchefuncte to
earn her top spot at the top. Vinay’s
achievement is her achievement alone.
But it’s also one that keeping in
pattern: she’s the 13th consecutive
South Asian-American — including
co-champions from 2014, 2015, and
2016 — to win the competition. Is there
a reason for the streak? Scientists have studied the streak for the past few
years to figure that out.
The most commonly cited factor of Indian-American spelling dominance is
cultural, as Indian-Americans have invested heavily in education as the path
to successfully escaping the disadvantages that often come with being an
immigrant. More than ​one-third of Indian-Americans​ end up with
post-graduate degrees, with another third having at least a college degree. In
America, Indian-Americans attend college at a high rate, but once there are
virtually absent from sports, music, and other activities.

And considering that an estimated 90 percent of Indian-Americans who go to
college earn their degrees in technical fields, primarily engineering, it seems
that there is an underlying cultural understanding of what fields and activities
should and should not be pursued. And with this strong emphasis on
education, children of professionally successful Indian-Americans have owned
the Spelling Bee for more than a decade. These parents now have the
economic means to give their kids the resources to succeed, and for most
Indian-American parents, that means education.
Some have speculated that Indian-American spelling domination is a result of
British colonialism​, as Indians have been taught English, giving them a natural
familiarity with the language. Others insist that Indian-Americans place a high
value on ​memorization in education​, while the general American education
system makes memorization a small part of the general curriculum. Still others
believe that the competitive advantage comes from the South Asian-American
“​minor league” spelling bee circuit​, where aspiring spellers can get a leg up by
already putting their skills to the test against other top spellers.
Ultimately, there’s no one reason for the prolonged spelling supremacy by
Indian-Americans, and each individual speller deserves credit for their
accomplishments. But understanding the context of the community only
makes this streak even more remarkable.

6 Friends Every Mom Needs
Why connecting with grown-ups is important for your sanity, and how to pick (and keep)
them
Not long ago, frustrated that my 3-month-old refused to sleep in his brand-new crib, I posted
the following on Facebook: "Patty is wondering why Will hates his crib so very much."
Almost instantly, my friend Angela, who had a sleepless 2-month-old of her own at home,
sent me several suggestions for getting him to sleep in his crib. One of them actually
worked (for a night or two anyway).
Having these friends—one who was going through the same stuff I was and one who had
already been through it—has been a lifesaver to me. I turn to the been-there, done-that gals
for parenting advice, my fellow clueless new-mom peers when I need someone to
commiserate with, and my pals without kids when I need a night out—and, let's be real, a
cocktail or two. No matter how old our kids are, we moms need our confidantes. These six
are lifesavers—but before you freak out, thinking, "I don't even have six friends," don't
worry: One woman might fill several roles, making you one lucky gal.

The Mom in the Same Boat
Why you need her:​ She gets it. Theresa Heroux of Vernon, NJ, mom of 4-year-old Julia,
spends a lot of time with her friend Erin, who's also a single mom. "When my married mom
friends want to get together, they don't understand why I can't immediately agree. I have to
find a babysitter," she says. "They just don't get it. But Erin does. We always have the kids
with us when we get together, and even though it's hectic, it's more relaxed because we
don't have to worry about finding, paying, and rushing home to relieve a sitter."
How to keep her:​ Whether the two of you are stay-at-home moms, working moms, or
single moms, try to get some one-on-one time without the kids—and make it fun, says Amy
Kovarick, coauthor of ​Baby on Board: Becoming a Mother Without Losing Yourself​ and a
mom of four. Yes, you're busy with work, the kids, errands, the house, and other craziness,
but the more time away from Chuck E. Cheese, the better. Make a date: You both deserve
it—and probably for the exact same reasons!
The No-Kids Pal
Why you need her:​ For adult conversation—and so you can act like you're still cool.
"Mother is my favorite role, but not my only one," says Mary Moore of Austin, TX, a
stay-at-home mom and an author. "It's so hard to get together with other moms because
someone's kid always has to nap or go to school or has some other commitment, and we
can never easily agree on a time or place to meet," she says. "With my friends who don't
have kids yet, that's not an issue." Another plus: "They're still into the latest restaurants,
fashion, and gossip," says Moore. "There are a lot of moms who just say 'Forget it, I'm too
crazed,' but that's not me." And perhaps best of all, she adds, "They're a respite from all the
mom chatter, like, say, discussing at length the local preschools years before we need to.
My single or non-mom friends are testament that there is life outside of 'cookies versus
cupcakes.'"
How to keep her:​ Put aside all the mommy stuff for an hour or two. Take time to find out
what's new with her, and be honest with yourself about her reaction to your kid talk. She
may eat up your cute stories, or she may not be so fascinated by the embarrassing thing
your 4-year-old said. As Kovarick puts it, when talking about one of her single friends: "She
likes my child and she likes to see him—kind of like she likes to see my dog." So when the
two meet up, they go halfsies. "I send my son to the babysitter for an hour so we can go for
a drink at a restaurant," she says, "then it's back to my house—with my three-year-old
running around." Compromise is key, even if your pal adores your kids.

The Been-There, Done-That Mom
Why you need her:​ She gets you through your "I don't know what I'm supposed to do next"
moments. For Jen Matlack of Bethel, CT, mom of 3-year-old Mae, this friend is Janet,
whose kids are 22 and 20. "If I have any concerns—Mae not napping, Mae constipated,
Mae not having playdates, or maybe my own parenting worries—I always check in with
Janet. She has offered me a lot of reassuring guidance," says Matlack. "And even though
she's my older, wiser parenting friend, she's also a kid at heart, just like me, so when I'm
around her, I get the best of both worlds: wisdom but also a wild side."
How to keep her:​ The good news is that she probably loves giving advice as much as you
love getting it. "Motherhood can seem like a thankless job, so it's great to be recognized
and be able to share what you've learned," says Kovarick. If you've asked for help, try to
remember to call and tell her how well her ideas worked out. And even though you may not
know yet what it's like to be in her shoes, you can still be a sounding board for her older-kid
problems.

The I'll-Do-Anything-For-You Buddy
Why you need her:​ She'll help you with your garage sale, drive the kids to soccer, and
bring over lasagna when you're dealing with a crisis. For Erin Hart of Arlington, VA, her
husband's best gal pal, Laurie, is this friend. "When I was pregnant with my second child,
we were in the process of redoing our closets, and my baby girl arrived a week early. Let's
just say the bag I brought to the hospital was a grocery bag, with a nursing bra, underwear,
a toothbrush, and a hairbrush. There wasn't much time." The day after Erin's daughter
Emerson was born, Laurie called a sitter to watch her own two boys, came over, and
washed, folded, and organized all the baby's clothes. "It was incredible," says Hart. "She
basically dropped everything to come to our rescue. And the first week we were home, she
brought over a fully cooked meal. I'll never forget that."
How to keep her:​ Friendships don't come with vows, like marriages do, says Marla Paul,
author of ​The Friendship Crisis​. It helps to remind your friends that you care. "So many
friendships fall apart because one friend feels neglected," says Paul. So return the favor.
Maybe you don't have the time to drop everything, as she always seems to, but make an
effort. When she's going through a tough time (or even having a tough week), instead of
cooking the family a homemade meal, as she might, drop off a pizza or a gift certificate for
her favorite Chinese takeout.
The Slightly Glam Girlfriend
Why you need her:​ For inspiration (it is possible to be a fashionable mom), advice (how
does she get out the door looking so great?), and a wardrobe you can borrow. My friend
Mary fits neatly (of course) into this slot for me. Every photo she e-mails me of her and her
daughter shows the two of them looking gorgeous, whether in their matching bikinis or out
to dinner at a fancy restaurant I couldn't imagine going to with a kid.
How to keep her:​ You admire your friend's got-it-togetherness, so tell her, says Kovarick.
She surely works hard at it and will appreciate the compliment. Watch out for your own
jealousy or embarrassment, though. Most of us feel that way sometimes, but if she's a real
friend, she's not trying to make you feel bad about your relative lack of style or organization.
She likes you for you—though if you're still wearing mom jeans, maybe she can help you
trade up.

The Brutally Honest Pal
Why you need her:​ We all need to hear the truth sometimes. It can sting, true, even if you
asked for your friend's opinion. But if she cares enough to tell you not just what you want to
hear, then she's a keeper. For many women, sisters play this role; for others, it's a longtime
friend, or a particularly outspoken newer one. The trick is distinguishing between someone
who's just bossy and someone who actually puts thought about you into her opinions. You'll
know the difference (one clue: If she only ever criticizes your choices, she's not helping).
How to keep her:​ It may take a day or two for you to digest what she's told you, but once
you have done so, call your friend and thank her for being honest—even if you don't agree,
says Kovarick. We don't have to be exactly like our friends—Twitter would be seriously
boring if we were—as long as we look out for each other, even while we're looking out for
our kids.