At Revere High School, sophomore Xpyna Princesa stands out—not with volume, but with versatility. From crocheting Baby Yodas to managing backstage chaos, she is a student whose quiet dedication touches nearly every corner of campus life.
Princesa stated she never leaves school. It is a fitting statement for someone involved in more than half a dozen clubs and organizations. Her list of commitments is long and includes Revere Players, Stitch Club (which she co-founded), Key Club, Red Cross Club, Recycling Club, Jazz Band, Pet Band and D&D Club. The process of co-founding Stitch Club may seem like a daunting process, but Xpyna and her peers created the club in just a few days.
“It started with me and my friends learning how to crochet and then learning that other people like crocheting. We just thought it would be cool if we had our own space and time dedicated to actual crocheting and knitting and teaching others how to do it too,” Princesa said.
As a backstage crew member for the school theater, Princesa is essential to the smooth running of productions. Evie Brackett, the stage manager for Revere players confirmed this statement.
“She’s on the ball. . . . Xpyna is super useful. She does like specific jobs for me. . . . we had to have somebody waiting in the wings to be given a coffee pot, and she was literally there for a whole scene,” Brackett said.
Beyond her reliability in club activities, Princesa brings creativity to everything she participates in.
“She crocheted backstage. She made a capybara with a flower on its head. She made some bees for the play—just round balls, but really cute,” Brackett said.
Her crafts extend into her academic life too: she co-founded Stitch Club, where she teaches others how to crochet.
“It started with me and my friends learning how to crochet. We just thought it would be cool if we had our own space and time dedicated to crocheting and knitting,” Princesa said.
Princesa’s favorite creations so far include a hamster and a baby yoda. The Yoda was her first-ever project. Princesa only picked up the hobby last year. In the classroom, Princesa continues to shine. Paul Fisher, her Honors Biology teacher, described her in a more academic setting.
“She’s very quiet, but very funny . . . and a really good student,” Fisher said.
He’s seen her involvement in National Honor Society (NHS) and volunteer work firsthand.
“She helped set up the dance and worked on a homeless charity project decorating items for donation. She’s very creative and very active in NHS activities. . . She’s not very outspoken, but certainly through example is a good leader. I think that would be a great thing for her to pursue when she’s a senior,” Fisher said.
Outside of academics and artistic expression, Xpyna also finds joy and community in less conventional places like the D&D Club.
“It’s where you can do anything your heart desires. Everything you imagined as a kid, you can actually imagine yourself doing it with your friends, but with actual rules so it’s not chaos. It shows me how special D&D can be in reigniting that childhood feeling,” Princesa said.
Princesa also contributes to the school’s music scene, playing the clarinet in Pep Band, Jazz Band, Concert Band and Marching Band.
Whether it is running a crochet workshop, managing theater props, volunteering at community events or getting lost in an imaginary realm with dice and friends, Princesa brings an unmatched depth and energy to the Revere High school community. She may not be the loudest voice in the room, but her impact is undeniable.
