I have to admit, I had an awesome Beychella clue for HOMECOMING QUEEN, but I am very happy to debut the phrase ESSENTIAL WORKER in this theme. I don't remember exactly how he came to say the phrase HIVE MIND, but my brain immediately jumped to thinking about the types of bees in a colony. I was actually on the phone with Ross working on another puzzle when I came up with this theme. I turn 18 years old in 13 days (the day before Valentine's Day), so I think this debut is an awesome way to close my formal childhood. I am also very honored that my puzzle makes me the youngest female constructor ever published in the Times. Crossword puzzles have really been an awesome way to spend my free time when I'm not talking to friends, reading, playing lacrosse, or in class. I've been solving since eighth grade, but I didn't really feel the desire to start constructing until the pandemic hit, and I suddenly had a lot of free time and not a lot of activities to fill it with.
One clue crossword bonus puzzle round things how to#
I started constructing in August 2020, after I Twitter DM'ed Ross Trudeau asking him if he could teach me how to make puzzles. Hi everyone! I'm a high school senior at The Lawrenceville School near Princeton, New Jersey, and I am super excited to be making my New York Times debut and to be the person kicking off Black Constructors' Week!