It started with a trip. Ninth grader Brett Garfield was with his grandparents when he noticed them invested in an activity: crossword puzzles.

“I saw them doing crosswords a lot, which was really interesting. And I really enjoy making things for other people,” Garfield said. “Then I saw my mom and dad doing a lot of crosswords, and I decided to make one.”

After experimenting with his own crosswords, Garfield decided to share his creations in the hallways of UPrep.

“It’s just something that I like to share because I like to see people enjoying something that I made,” Garfield said. “Mainly it’s me just going through the halls and saying, ‘Do you want a crossword?’”

Garfield’s crosswords always start with a theme— sometimes with help from members of the UPrep community, friends, or family.

“I certainly don’t do these absolutely alone,” he said. “I always have help, but that’s part of the fun, is collaborating with others to achieve something.”

After choosing the theme, Garfield goes to a website called crossword maker and slowly starts filling out the puzzle. He archives every crossword in a Google folder for easy reference.

Junior Eleena Bhala looks forward to Garfield’s crosswords and the creative themes he comes up with.

“Not a lot of people like take them, but the people who do take them, I think they enjoy them,” Bhalla said.

Bhalla finds that the puzzles are an exciting addition to her day.

“They just make me happy on Mondays when you don’t really want to be at school,” she said.

As the year continues, Garfield plans to continue his puzzle making endeavor, hoping to spread joy wherever he can on campus.

“I just make it so people can have fun and do something that’s interesting,” Garfield said. “It’s fun for me, and I hope it’s fun for you, and everybody else, too.”