A Nantucket native and class of 2024 Nantucket High graduate, Popnikolova has always loved poetry. Since 8th grade COVID-times, she has been writing and reading poetry every single day. Her work has been published so far in THE WEIGHT JOURNAL, TeenINK, and has won several local awards. She placed third in the state in Poetry Out Loud in spring 2024. She will be leaving the island in late August for college. Popnikolova will be attending Harvard for her undergraduate degree.